Justice Deinde Dipeolu of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a South Africa returnee, Okorie Sunday to six months imprisonment, for laundering the sum of $299, 000 USD, into the country.
The judge also ordered the convict to forfeit the the sun of $299,000 USD, which was intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, on March 19, to the federal government of Nigeria due to non declaration.
Justice Dipeolu made the above orders on Wednesday, while given judgement, after the convict pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering made against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
To prove the case against the convicted South Africa returnee, the EFCC through it’s lawyer, Chineye C. Okezie, led a witness from the Nigerian Customs Service Service (NCS), Nanaowe Tonbo who narrated how Okorie approach the declaration desk and was asked to declare what he has in his luggage.
in his testimony, the witness said; “My names are Nanaowe Tonbo. I work with the Nigerian customs service under anti-money laundering Section, at MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos.
“On the 19th of March 2025 at about 9 to 10pm. Mr Sunday Okorie approached the declaration desk and was asked that what did he has on him. He only declaration $225, 000 dollars.
“However, we were not convinced about what he said, we went on a though rough search because he was carrying four bags.
“We discovered various amount of money in dollars. We discovered that $299,000 out $578,000 united States dollars and €100 were not declared.”
To further prove the charge against the convict, the EFCC lawyer also called one of the agency’s operatives, who also testified on how the convict was handed over to the EFCC with the monetary exhibit.
The EFCC operative said: “My name are Filicia Paul, I’m an operative of EFCC. On the 21st of March, 2025. The Nigerian Customs Service handed over the defendant to the EFCC.
“In his statement written by his Son Emeka Okorie. He stated that the reason why he didn’t declare the remaining $250,000 was that he didn’t know the actual amount because it was given by his friends in South Africa to give a Bureau De Change man at ikeja.
“The Bureau De Change man Sulaimon Abdulrasheed was invited to the Commission and he made statement.”
The statement was admitted in the evidence without objection and marked exhibits 4.
The statement of the Defendant was also tendered and Admitted in evidence without objection.
Based on the evidence of the witnesses, exhibits tendered, the guilty plea of the convict and Merc plea of his lawyer, Uche Okoronkwo, the court sentenced the convict to six months imprisonment, starting from the day of his arrest.
The judge also ordered that the undeclared sum of $299, 000 USD be forfeited to the federal government.
However, prior to the arraignment of the convict, a drama occured when the registrar was about reading the amended charge to him, as he slumped while in the dock.
The situation forced the trial judge to stand down his arraignment until when he is revived. And case was recalled at exactly 1:45 pm when the defendant has been fully stabilised.
