A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State and presided over by Justice Okechukwu Okeke on Friday convicted a bulk cash courier, Ikem Sabastine Ikechukwu, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The court ordered Ikechukwu to forfeit 25 per cent of the $286,400 not declared to the security agencies before he was arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
He was intercepted by operatives of the EFCC on September 29, 2012 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos on his way to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
He only declared $225,900 to the Nigerian Customs Service.
The EFCC, on Friday, arraigned him on a one count charge of money laundering.
The one count charge against Ikechukwu reads: “That you Ikem Sabastine Ikechukwu on or about the 29th of September 2012 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting in cash the sum of $286, 400.00 (Two Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Four Hundred Dollars) only from Nigeria to Dubai, United Arab Emirates falsely declared to the Nigerian Customs Service the sum of $225,900.00 (Two Hundred and Twenty Five Thousand, Nine Hundred Dollars) only instead of the said sum of $286,400.00 (Two Hundred and Eighty Six Thousand, Four Hundred Dollars) as required under section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2 (3) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition) Act, 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.”
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge.
Based on his plea, prosecuting counsel, A.M. Aliyu, prayed the court to convict him.
The defence counsel, B. O. Ndakara, pleaded with the court for leniency as the accused person was a first-time offender who did not waste the court’s time.
“I pray the court to apply discretion in the terms of punishment to be awarded to the convict,” Ndakara told the court.
Justice Okeke convicted the accused person as charged.
He ruled that based on the provisions of Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, the accused person should forfeit 25 per cent of the undeclared sum, which is $60,500 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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