Businessman Jailed for Six Months Over Undeclared $299,000 and €100 at Lagos Airport

Court Orders Forfeiture of Undeclared Funds to Federal Government

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced Okorie Sunday, a businessman, to six months imprisonment after convicting him for failing to declare $299,000 and €100 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu delivered the judgment on Wednesday, ruling that the undeclared foreign currency be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The court also backdated the jail term to March 19, 2025, the day of his arrest.

Mamman Ali Re-Arraigned Over Alleged ₦2.2 Billion Subsidy Fraud

Drama in Court as Defendant Collapses

Before the judgment was delivered, there was a moment of tension when Okorie slumped in the dock just as the charges were about to be re-read to him. Court officials and spectators watched in shock as it took about six men to carry him out of the courtroom to the court clinic for first aid treatment.

Following medical attention, he was placed in a waiting white bus and taken to a hospital for further evaluation. The court then stood down the case for over four hours.

After doctors certified that Okorie was fit to stand trial, the proceedings resumed, and he changed his plea from not guilty to guilty.

EFCC’s Case Against Okorie Sunday

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initially charged Okorie with four counts, including money laundering and counterfeiting scam. However, following his guilty plea, the EFCC withdrew two counterfeiting-related charges, leaving the two counts of failing to declare foreign currency.

The EFCC presented two key witnesses:

• Tombo Nanowe, a staff of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Anti-Money Laundering section at MMIA
• Felicia Paul, an EFCC operative

Nanowe recounted the events leading to Okorie’s arrest, stating that on March 19, 2025, at approximately 9:10 PM, the businessman approached the currency declaration desk after arriving from South Africa.

“When asked how much he had, he declared $279,000. However, due to suspicions, we conducted a thorough search of his four bags and discovered additional money hidden inside Relaxer hair cream containers. The total amount found was $299,000 and €100, which he failed to declare,” Nanowe testified.

Additionally, $250 in counterfeit US dollars was also discovered among the concealed funds.

Following the discovery, Nigeria Customs alerted the area controller, who instructed that Okorie be detained and later handed over to the EFCC for investigation.

Investigation Reveals Okorie’s Explanation for Undeclared Funds

During the EFCC’s investigation, Okorie claimed he was unaware of the exact amount he was carrying. He stated that his friends in South Africa had given him various sums to deliver to a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator in Ikeja, Lagos.

As Okorie struggled to provide a written statement, his son, Emeka Okorie, wrote it on his behalf.

The BDC operator, Sulaimon Abdulrasheed, was also invited by the EFCC for questioning. He confirmed that Okorie was meant to deliver the foreign currency to him but denied any knowledge of the undeclared amount.

With no objections from Okorie’s defense team, the court admitted the currency declaration form and written statements as evidence.

Court’s Verdict: Six Months Jail Term and Forfeiture of Funds

After hearing the evidence, the EFCC urged the court to convict Okorie and order the forfeiture of the undeclared funds to the government.

In his ruling, Justice Deinde Dipeolu noted that Okorie had pleaded guilty and that the court was satisfied he admitted to all essential elements of the offense.

Citing Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering Act, 2022, the judge explained that any individual who fails to declare or falsely declares foreign currency to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is liable to forfeiture of the undeclared funds or imprisonment for at least two years.

While considering mitigating factors, Justice Dipeolu noted that:

• Okorie was a first-time offender
• He had no prior criminal record
• He changed his plea to guilty early in the trial

Taking these into account, the court sentenced him to six months in prison, effective from March 19, 2025, the date of his arrest.

“The convict shall forfeit the sum of $299,000 and €100 to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Having considered the mitigating factors, the convict is sentenced to six months imprisonment to commence from the date of his arrest,” Justice Dipeolu ruled.

Okorie was immediately remanded at the correctional center following the judgment.

Conclusion: A Lesson in Financial Compliance

This case serves as a strong warning to travelers and businessmen on the importance of declaring all foreign currency upon arrival in Nigeria. The Nigerian government continues to tighten regulations on money laundering and illicit financial activities, with strict penalties for offenders.

With the EFCC actively monitoring financial crimes, individuals involved in undeclared cash transactions and smuggling of foreign currency face severe legal consequences if caught.