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LAGOS, Nigeria - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought one Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu before Justice Yellim Bogoro at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, for not declaring foreign currencies totaling £8,020 and $704 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Okechukwu was apprehended by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) operatives in December 2024 while attempting to travel with unreported cash.
After his arrest, he was transferred to the EFCC for further inquiries. The EFCC charged him with two counts related to money laundering.
One charge indicated that on December 10, 2024, Okechukwu failed to declare £8,020 to the NCS at the airport, which is contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The charge states: “That you, Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu, on the 10th day of December, 2024, in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, failed to declare the sum of £8,020 to the Nigeria 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.”
Okechukwu, however, pleaded guilty to the charges.
According to EFCC operative Abubakar Magaji, who presented the facts of the case to the court, the defendant initially declared only £7,000 but did not disclose the additional £8,020 and $704 in his possession.
Magaji stated that Okechukwu claimed to have forgotten to declare the extra cash because he was distressed from the recent loss of his brother.
He stated that he was arrested at the MMIA Airport with a total of £15,020 and $704. He also mentioned that he declared £7,000 but forgot to declare the additional sums of £8,020 and $704,” Magaji narrated.
“He mentioned that he did not make the declaration as he claimed to have experienced a loss and was intending to bring back his brother's corpse.
“He provided the death certificate of his brother, his brother’s photos, and other supporting documents.”
The defendant was said to have submitted documents such as a death certificate and photographs to back his explanation.
Magaji confirmed the identity of the defendant’s statement, the NCS handing-over note, the arresting officer’s statement, and the sums of £8,020 and $704 to the EFCC.
The prosecution counsel requested to submit all the documents as evidence. Justice Bogoro accepted and marked them as exhibits P1-P11.
The judge postponed the case until May 2, 2025, for judgment and ordered that the defendant be held in a Correctional Centre.
