Businessman Okorie bags jail term, forfeits undeclared $299,000, €100, to FG
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday March 26 ordered the forfeiture to the Federal Government of Nigeria the sum of $299,000 and €100 being undeclared sum found with a convicted South African based Nigerian businessman Okorie Sylvernus Sunday.
In addition to the forfeiture, the convict was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment by the trial judge, Justice Isaac Deinde Dipeolu.
This was the verdict of the court in an amended two counts criminal charge of money laundering brought against the businessman who collapsed in court during the proceedings.
He was earlier arraigned on Tuesday March 25 before the court on a 4-counts charge. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre pending commencement of trial on Wednesday 26.
When the matter was called on Wednesday, Chinenye Okezie Esq announced appearance for the prosecution while Uche Okoronkwo Esq. announced appearance for the defendant.
The defence counsel informed the court that the defendant has indicated his willingness to change his plea based on the amended charge.of two counts. Also the prosecutor informed the court that the charge has been amended to two counts, and applied to withdraw counts 3 and 4 which was granted by the court.
Barely few minutes after the defendant Okorie Sylvernus Sunday entered the dock to change his plea, he became dizzy and collapsed in the courtroom.
He was rushed out to the hospital for medical attention.
Meanwhile, the court stood down the matter to allow recovery from his state of health.
After about four hours, he was brought back from hospital to the court in good health condition, having regained consciousness.
After listening to the amended charge which was read to him, he pleaded guilty to the two counts.
In view of the defendant’s plea, the prosecution while reviewing the facts of the case, called two witnesses, one officer from the Nigeria Customs Service who works under the anti money laundering unit of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos and the other witness is Felicia Paul, an investigation Officer with the EFCC.
The Customs Officer told the court how the defendant approached the currency declaration desk, declared the sum of $279,000 and failed to declare the sum of $299, 000 and €100 which was tied in a blue paper and was wrapped with sellotape.
He was handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after series of interrogation.
The second witness told the court how the Nigeria Customs Service handed over the defendant who arrived to Nigeria through MMIA from South Africa. He was interrogated and he said that he was given the money by some of his friends in South Africa to give to. one Bureau de Change man at Ikeja, adding that he didn’t count the entire money.
He offered to write his statement to the EFCC through his son.
Having reviewed the facts, the prosecutor urged the court to convict and sentence the defendant in view of his plea, testimony of the witnesses, evidence before the court and in accordance with the sections of the law as charged.
She further urged the court to order the forfeiture of the undeclared sum of $299,000 and €100 to Federal Government of Nigeria.
Justice Dipeolu after going through the evidence tendered and admitted as exhibit, the plea of the defendant and sections of the law cited by the prosecution, said ” I find the defendant guilty in counts one and two and is accordingly convicted.
In his allocutus, the defendant’s counsel U Okoronkwo told the court that the convict is a first time offender, has no previous criminal records. That he pleaded guilty at the second chance without wasting the time of the court.
He urged the court to tamper justice with mercy. That the essence of prison is reformative and not necessarily punitive. He is very remorseful and has learnt his bitter lesson.
In sentencing the defendant, Justice Dipeolu said ” you Okorie Sylvernus Sunday is sentenced to six months imprisonment with effect from March 19, 2025.
The undeclared sums of $299,000 and €100 are to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
“The defendant is to be at the Nigerian Correctional Centre”.
Counts one and two read:
“That you Okorie Sylvernus Sunday on the 19 th day of March 2025, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court failed to make a declaration of the sum of $299,000 (Two Hundred and Ninety Nine Thousand United States Dollars) which you conceived 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 Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you Okorie Sylvernus Sunday on the 19 th day of March 2025in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court failed to make a declaration of the sum of €100 (One Hundred Euros) which you conceived 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 Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022”.
