Orders forfeiture of undeclared $299,000 to FG

A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday, convicted and sentenced Okorie Sunday to six months imprisonment for laundering $299,000 and €100 into the country.

It also ordered the forfeiture of the laundered money, which was intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on March 19, to the federal government due to non-declaration.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu gave the ruling after the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Chineye Okezie, led one of the witnesses from the NCS, Nanaowe Tonbo, who narrated how Okorie approached the declaration desk and was asked to declare what he had in his luggage.

Also, the EFCC operative gave evidence on how the Customs handed over Okorie and the cash exhibits to the anti-graft agency for further investigation. Meanwhile, Okezie, during the proceedings yesterday, told the court of her readiness to proceed with the trial, as 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 if the charge against him is amended. Okezie, who prayed the court to allow him to amend the charge, urged it to strike out counts three and four.