Money Laundering: EFCC Docks Man for Failure to Declare $1.9m
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Nigeria anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned one Ani Paulinus Onyeka before Justice Rita-Ofili Ajumogobia of the Federal High Court, Lagos on a 2-count charge of Money Laundering.
Onyeka is alleged to have failed to declare the sum of $1,909,140 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Forty US Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service as required by law, upon his arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.One of the counts reads: “that you Ani Paulinus Onyeka on or about the 10th of February 2014 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting in cash the sum of $1,909,140 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Forty US Dollars) from the Republic of Congo to Nigeria, failed to declare the sum of $1,909,140 (One Million, Nine Hundred and Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Forty US Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service as required under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Provision) Act) 2011 as amended in 2012.”
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of the plea of the accused, the prosecution counsel, G.C Akaogu asked the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in prison custody.
In his response, the defence counsel A. A Adetunji informed the court that he had filed an application for bail and prayed the court to be allowed to move the motion for bail.
Justice Ofili Ajumogobia after listening to the submissions of counsel adjourned the case to 8th of July for ruling on bail and commencement of trial and the ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody.