Money Laundering: South Africa Returnee Jailed 6 Months, Forfeits Undeclared $299k To FGN

Justice Deinde Dipeolu sitting in Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos Wednesday convicted and sentenced Okorie Sunday to six Months imprisonment for laundering the sum of $299,000 and 100 Euro into the country.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of the sum of $299,000, and 100 Euros 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 delivered the judgement after the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Chineye Okezie lead one witness from the Nigerian Customs Service, Nanaowe Tonbo who narrated how Okorie approach the declaration desk and was asked to declare what he has in his luggage.

“My names are Nanaowe Tonbo. I work with the Nigerian customs service under anti money laundering section in MMA 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 was not declared.”

Also the EFCC operative gave evidence on how customs handed over Okorie and the Cash exhibits to the EFCC for further investigation

“My name are Felicia Paul, 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, the suspect stated that the reason why he didn’t declare the remaining $250,000 was that he didn’t know the actual amount because he was given by his friends in South Africa to give the 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.

At the resumed proceeding early on Wednesday, Counsel to the EFCC, Okezie, inform the court of her readiness to proceed to trial, because the defendant had pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on Tuesday.

But Counsel to the defendant, Okoronkwo Uche, informed the court of the defendant’s intention to change his plea, should incase the charge against the defendant is amended.

Flowing from this request, Okezie prayed the Court to allow her amend the charge. She urged the court to strike out Count 3 and 4.

However, prior to the arraignment of the convict, a drama occured when the registrar was about reading the amended charge to the defendant, the convict slumped inside the dock. The situation which made the trial judge to stand down the case until when he is revived.

The case was recalled at exactly 1:45 pm when the defendant has been fully stabilised.