Court Orders Money Laundering Convict to Forfeit N17m to FG

A Federal High Court in Enugu has sentenced a man to 6 months imprisonment for failing to declare the sum of $86,000 (about N17m) out of a total sum of $96,000 while travelling to China in December 2015.

Samuel Duru was arrested by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu while travelling to China in December 2015 and was subsequently handed to EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.

Duru pleaded guilty to the one count charge preferred against him.

The defence counsel Ikuka Kennedy pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy since the convict had shown remorse and a was a first time offender that had no past criminal records.

Justice M.N Yinusa further ordered that the undeclared $86,000 be forfeited to the Federal Government, while the $10,000 and his international passport be returned to the convict.