The federal high court in Lagos has remanded Okorie Sunday, a suspect arrested at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos with $578,000.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Sunday on Tuesday for a four-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and unlawful importation of counterfeit foreign currencies.
On March 19, operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) arrested the suspect at the Lagos airport for false currency declaration.
He had arrived in Nigeria from Johannesburg, South Africa.
The suspect was said to have approached the currency declaration desk and declared that he came into the country with $279,000 cash.
According to the EFCC, an additional $299,000 was found to be neatly concealed in different packages, thereby totalling $578,000.
During further examination, the suspect was discovered to have concealed €100 as well as counterfeit $250 in other packages.
On March 21, the suspect, along with the recovered funds, was handed over to the anti-graft agency by customs.
THE COURT PROCEEDINGS
After the charge sheet was read, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the offenses.
Chineye Okezie, counsel to the EFCC, told the court that the offences contravened section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and sections 3(1)(a), 5(1)(b), and (2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act.
Okezie urged the court to remand the suspect in prison custody.
Deinde Dipeolu, the presiding judge, adjourned the case to March 26 for trial.(The Cable)
