From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu before Justice Yellim Bogoro at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for failing to declare £8,020 and $704.
Okechukwu was arrested in December 2024 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) operatives for non-declaration of the funds. He was handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and faced a two-count charge of money laundering.
One count read: “That you, Agudosi Christopher Okechukwu, on the 10th day of December 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of £8,020 (Eight Thousand and Twenty Pounds Sterling) 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 pleaded guilty to the charges. Prosecution counsel C.C. Okezie called EFCC operative Abubakar Magaji to present the case facts. Magaji said Okechukwu was handed over to the EFCC’s Okotie Eboh office in Ikoyi.
“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 £7,000 and forgot to declare the sums of £8,020 and $704 on him,” Magaji told the court.
“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,” Magaji added, noting Okechukwu submitted his brother’s death certificate, photos, and other documents.
Magaji presented Okechukwu’s statement, the NCS handing-over note, the arresting officer’s statement, and the sums of £8,020 and $704. Okezie tendered these as evidence, and Justice Bogoro admitted them as exhibits P1-P11.
The case was adjourned to 2 May 2025 for judgment, with Okechukwu remanded to a correctional centre.