For failing to
declare $310,500 to the authorities at the Murtala Muhammed International
Airport, a traveller, Efosa Eriamiantoe, has been asked to forfeit the sum
to
the Federal Government.
Justice Saliu
Seidu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi also convicted the suspect.
The convict
had been arrested by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at the airport on
his way from South Africa on January 25, 2015 for failure to declare the money
found on him.
He was
subsequently arraigned on April 23, 2015 by the EFCC on one count bordering on
money laundering, an offence punishable under Section 2 (5) of the money
laundering Act.
He pleaded not
guilty to the charge, thereby setting the stage for his trial.
Prosecuting
counsel, Abba Mohammed, during the trial, provided enough evidence to convince
the judge that he had flouted the provision of the money laundering
(prohibition) Act.
The defence
counsel, E. A . Onyeke, pleaded with the judge to allow his client forfeit the
money to the Federal Government, rather than serving a jail term.
“My Lord, the
defendant has suffered so much in the course of this trial, ” he added.
Justice Seidu
convicted the accused person and ordered that the undeclared $310,500 should be
forfeited to the Federal Government.
“The accused
is a frequent international traveller who knows the rules guiding money
laundering. But he is inconsistent in his evidence.
“I am
satisfied that the prosecutor has been able to prove its case beyond reasonable
doubt. The accused is hereby convicted and should forfeit the sum of $310,500
to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the judge ruled.
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