Businessman forfeits undeclared $41000 to govt
(Nigeria) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
has secured the conviction of one Agumandu Nnamdi, before Justice F.N Yunusa of
the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu, on one count charge bordering on Money
Laundering.
The convict was
arrested by a team of Presidential Trans-border Task force of the Nigeria
Customs Service on the 5th September, 2015 at the Akanu Ibiam International
Airport Enugu for falsely declaring the sum of $9,500 out of the total sum of
$51,000.00 on his way to China on an alleged business trip, an offence contrary
to the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous) Act, Cap F34 Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2012.
He was subsequently handed over to the Commission for
prosecution. The count reads:
“That you Nnamdi on the September 5, 2015 at the Akanu Ibiam
International Airport, Enugu within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court
of Nigeria, Enugu Judicial Division
while transporting in cash the sum of $51,000 only from Nigeria to
China, falsely declared to the Nigerian Customs Service the sum of $9,500 only,
instead of the sum of $51,000as required under section 12 of the Foreign
Exchange(Monitoring and Miscellaneous) Act, Cap F34 Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria,2004 and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section (5) of
the Money Laundering Prohibition Act,2011 as amended by Section 2 of the Money
Laundering Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2012.”
The prosecuting counsel, R.E Ajobiewe told the Court that
the accused person has entered a plea bargain agreement in line with Section
272 of the Administration of Criminal Act and applied that the Court adopt the
plea bargain agreement.
The lead defense counsel, A.O.K Agbawo however, prayed the Court to tamper justice with mercy
adding that the accused is a hardworking young man and the said money was
legitimately earned. He further applied that the accused person’s passport and
the said money be returned to him.
The court, however, found the accused person guilty, dismissed the
application of the defense counsel and ordered that the undeclared sum of money
totaling $41,000USD be forfeited to the Federal Government.
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