Court remands Lagos woman over alleged failure to declare foreign currencies, case adjourned until August 19
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded one Ifunanya Phil-Olumba in Kirikiri Correctional Centre over alleged falsely declaring and failure to declare foreign currencies totalling $14,567, £1,030 and CA$40 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred three counts against Phil-Olumba, accusing her of making false declarations to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and failing to declare foreign currencies, contrary to Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The EFCC alleged that on July 22, at MMIA, Ikeja, Lagos, Phil-Olumba declared $4,000 while in possession of $14,567, failed to declare CA$40. and falsely declared £1,000 while in possession of £1,030.
The anti-graft agency said the offences contravene Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The prosecution, led by Okezie Chineye, called two witnesses at the resumed proceedings before Justice Dehinde Dipeolu.
The first prosecution witness, Stella Ogar, an officer of the NCS, told the court that Phil-Olumba was intercepted during inward clearance from the United Kingdom.
According to Ogar, the defendant declared only CA$4,000, despite allegedly being in possession of CA$14,000 alongside other undeclared sums.
“We arrested her and handed her over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for further investigation,” Ogar testified.
The second prosecution witness, Felicia Paul, an EFCC official, confirmed that Phil-Olumba was handed over to the Commission by the Customs, and after she was interrogated, opted to make a written statement which the prosecution would tender in evidence.
Defence counsel Edwin Anikwem objected to the admissibility of the statement, contending that it was not obtained voluntarily and was made without the presence of counsel, contrary to legal procedure.
The court remanded the defendant in Kirikiri and adjourned further hearing until August 19 for continuation of trial.
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