Court Adjourns Trial of Woman Accused of Hiding Foreign Currency At Lagos Airport

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned to August 19, 2025, the trial of Phil-Olumba Ifunanya Sheila, accused of failing to declare foreign currency totaling $14,567, £1,030, and CA$40 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The date was fixed after the testimony of Mrs. Stella John Ogar, a Nigeria Customs Service officer, who appeared as a prosecution witness and was led in evidence by prosecution counsel Okezie Chineye.

Ogar told the court that the defendant was intercepted during inward clearance from the United Kingdom. According to her, Sheila declared only CA$4,000 despite being in possession of CA$14,000.

“We arrested her and handed her over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation,” she testified.

The second prosecution witness, EFCC operative Felicia Paul, confirmed that Customs handed the defendant over to the anti-graft agency. She told the court that Sheila was interrogated and offered to make a written statement, which the EFCC sought to tender.

However, defence counsel Edwin Anikwem objected, arguing that the statement was not obtained voluntarily and without the presence of a lawyer, in violation of legal requirements.

Justice Dipeolu, sitting as vacation judge, adjourned further hearing to August 19, 2025.

The EFCC has filed a three-count charge against Sheila, accusing her of making false declarations to Customs and failing to declare foreign currency, in violation of Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The three-count charge filed by the EFCC states: “That you, Phil-Olumba Ifunanya Sheila, on the 22nd day of July, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, falsely declared the sum of $4,000 to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, whilst having the total sum of $14,567 (Fourteen Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty-Seven United States Dollars), and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you, Phil-Olumba Ifunanya Sheila, on the 22nd day of July, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of 40CAD (Forty Canadian Dollars) to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

“That you, Phil-Olumba Ifunanya Sheila, on the 22nd day of July, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, falsely declared the sum of 1,000GBP to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, whilst having the total sum of 1,030GBP (One Thousand and Thirty British Pounds), and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”

She was later remanded in the prison custody after she pleaded not guilty.