The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu before Justice Yellim Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly failing to declare foreign currency in his possession amounting to £8,020 and $704 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Okechukwu was apprehended by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, in December 2024 while attempting to travel with the undeclared cash. Following his arrest, the matter was transferred to the EFCC for further investigation.
The defendant is facing a two-count charge related to money laundering.
According to one of the charges, Okechukwu, on December 10, 2024, failed to declare the sum of £8,020 to NCS officials at the airport, an offence said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The count reads: “That you , Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu, on the 10th day of December, 2024 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court , failed to make a declaration of 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.
Presenting the facts of the case before the court, EFCC operative Abubakar Magaji stated that the defendant initially declared only £7,000 but failed to disclose an additional £8,020 and $704 in his possession.
Magaji further told the court that Okechukwu claimed he forgot to declare the remaining funds due to emotional distress following the recent loss of his brother.
“His statement was recorded under caution. He stated that he was arrested at the MMIA Airport with a total sum of £15,020 and $704. He also stated that he declared £7000 and forgot to declare the sums of £8020 and $704 on him,”; Magaji said.
“He said he did not make the declaration because he claimed to have suffered a loss and was going to bring back the corpse of his brother.
“He submitted the death certificate of his brother, his brother’s pictures, and other documents.”;
The defendant was said to have submitted supporting documents, including a death certificate and photographs, to substantiate his explanation.
EFCC operative Abubakar Magaji told the court that he identified the defendant’s statement, the handing-over note from the Nigeria Customs Service, the arresting officer’s statement, and the sums of £8,020 and $704 handed over to the Commission.
The prosecution counsel subsequently applied to tender all the referenced documents as evidence.
Justice Yellim Bogoro admitted the documents and marked them as Exhibits P1 to P11.
