EFCC arraigns 38-year-old man for money laundering
A 38-year-old man, Onwenu Nnamdi Innocent, has been arraigned by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, November 15, 2016 on a one-count charge bordering on bulk cash movement and suspected money laundering.
He was brought before Justice O. O. Oguntoyinbo of the Federal High Court, sitting at Ikoyi.
The case was initially before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumugobia but taken over by Justice Oguntoyibo after Ajumugobia was moved out of Lagos jurisdiction, leading to the case being adjourned till November 15, 2016.
When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty.
He was alleged to be in possession of a travelling bag containing $54,000 which he failed to declare at the outward clearance of passengers en-route Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The charge read: “That you Onwenu Nnamdi Innocent on or about the 11th of August, 2015 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court had in your possession cash in the sum of Fifty Four Thousand United State of America Dollars (US$54,000) during your outbound clearance for travel to Addis Ababa Ethiopia and failed to declare the sum of Fifty Four Thousand United States of America Dollars (US$54,000 to the officers and men of the Nigerian Customs Services as required under the provision of section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No.1 of 2012) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012)”.
In view of the defendant’s plea, the prosecution counsel, M. S. Owede asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
The defense counsel, Olusola Salawo informed the court that he had filed a bail application and urged the court to move his motion.
However, Justice Oguntoyinbo adjourned the matter till November 24, 2016 for argument on bail application while ordering the accused to be remanded in EFCC custody.
