The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the forfeiture of $20,000 to the Federal Government. The sum was confiscated by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) from a United States-bound traveler, Olusola Okunfulure.
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Okunfulure was arrested by NCS officials on March 28, 2025, during the inward clearance of passengers for an evening flight to the USA via Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, after failing to declare the sum of $20,000.
Justice Dehinde Dipeolu issued the forfeiture order during Okunfulure’s prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Through its counsel, Chineye Okezie, who led EFCC operative Filicia Paul in evidence, the Commission filed a one-count charge against the defendant.
Okunfulure pleaded guilty.
Following his plea, defense counsel Joel Ogundire made an allocutus on Okunfulure’s behalf, pleading for leniency and requesting that part of the money be returned to the defendant.
Ogundire stated: “He is a family man of over 15 years. His bank records clearly show he is engaged in legitimate business. He was only shown the declaration form after he had been cleared.
“We are not opposed to forfeiting $20,000 out of the $30,000, as stipulated by law.”
Reviewing the case, the judge invited the EFCC to present its evidence against the defendant.
Presenting the EFCC’s findings, Paul stated: “I know the defendant. On March 28, officials of the Nigerian Customs Service arrested him at Murtala Muhammed International Airport while he was en route to America.
“He was found in possession of $30,000, which he failed to declare. He was subsequently handed over to the Commission along with the sum of $30,000.”
Upholding the EFCC’s case, Justice Dipeolu convicted and sentenced Okunfulure to three months’ imprisonment.
However, the judge ordered that $10,000 be returned to the defendant.
“I have considered the plea of the convict, the fact that he did not waste the court’s time, as well as all mitigating factors.
“I hereby order the forfeiture of $20,000 to the Federal Government of Nigeria and sentence the convict to three months’ imprisonment,” Justice Dipeolu ruled.
The EFCC alleged in the charge that Okunfulure failed to declare $20,000 out of the $30,000 in his possession to the Nigerian Customs Service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
The anti-graft agency told the court that the offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
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