Justice Deinde I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, convicted and sentenced Okorie Sylvernus Sunday to six months imprisonment for money Laundering.
The convict was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, with $578,000 for false currency declaration.
The Area Comptroller in charge of the Nigeria Customs Service, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, E.J. Harrison, had, on Friday, March 21, 2025, handed him over to the acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh , Ikoyi , Lagos for further investigations.
He was subsequently arraigned on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering and counterfeit currency.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, on the 19th day of March, 2025 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $299,000 (Two Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand United States Dollars), which you concealed in Relaxer containers to the Nigerian 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.”
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Consequently, Justice Dipeolu adjourned till March 26, 2025 for the commencement of trial and also ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Correctional Centre.
However, at the resumed sitting on Wednesday, defence counsel, U. Okoronkwo, told the court that the defendant would like to change his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.”
In view of this prosecution counsel, C.C. Okezie, prayed the court to withdraw counts three and four of the charges. The Judge, thereafter, removed both counts three and four of the charges preferred against the defendant.
However, while the defendant was about to change his plea, he slumped during the proceedings and was immediately taken to the clinic.
Thereafter, Okezie, told the court that “ We were informed by the clinic upstairs that he requires medical attention. However, the Correctional Centre does not have the facility to do so in time.”
Okezie, therefore, prayed the court to remand the defendant in the EFCC custody, so he could be “assisted, medically.”
The Judge remanded the defendant in the EFCC custody and also stood down the case.
When the court resumed sitting, the defendant “pleaded guilty” to the two-count charges preferred against him.
Following his guilty plea, Okezie, called both N.B. Tonbor, an operative of the NCS and Felicia Paul, an operative of the EFCC, to review the facts of the case .
Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Tonbor told the court he works in the Anti-money Laundering Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service, Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
He added that his job entailed profiling passengers departing and arriving at the Airport.
He said: “On March 19, 2025, at 9:10.p.m., Mr. Okorie Sunday approached the Currency Declaration Desk and was asked how much he had on him. He declared that he had the sum of $279,000.
“My team was not convinced by the declaration, so they searched further. By checking the bags, they found money concealed in a pack of cream . The said money was tied in a nylon and wrapped with a cellotape.”
“When it was unveiled, we saw various amounts and the sum total was counterfeit $299,000 United States Dollars and One Hundred Euros, which were not declared.”
