The Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced two Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to five years in prison, or a N2 million fine each, for operating without valid licences from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment following cases filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Isah Sulaiman and Aminu Abdullahi, the latter operating under Ninext Multi-Ventures Ltd. The court rejected an initial plea bargain agreement that proposed a lighter sentence, ruling that it contradicted the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act of 2020. This ruling marks another step in the ongoing regulatory enforcement to curb unlicensed financial operations and protect the integrity of the foreign exchange market.