Currency Smuggler Convicted Over $188,858

Ibrahim

Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court today 23^rd January convicted Mallam Abulrasheed Ibrahim for the offence of money laundering.  After the dramatic turn of changing his plea of guilty to not guilty plea on the 21^st January, 2013, Mallam Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, today withdrew his plea and pleaded guilty to the offence. He was arrested on Wednesday, November 7, 2013 by operatives of the commission as he prepared to board a Dubai, United Arab Emirate bound Ethiopian airline, at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport when he declared the sum of $45,000 but a search revealed additional $143,858.

EFCC counsel, Chioma Okongwu did not object to the withdrawal of the motion of not guilty. The defence counsel, Efut Okoi pleaded on behalf of the accused for leniency saying he was a first time offender, an honest business man who has dependants. He further pleaded that since the charge has the option of fine, the court should mitigate the fine stipulated by law.

Justice Adamu Bello ruled that  25% of the total sum, which is $188,858 be forfeited and paid into the Federal Government Treasury by the court accountant and the remaining money returned to the convict through his counsel.  

The charge against the convict read; “That you Abdulrasheed Ibrahim on or about the 7^thNovember, 2013 at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting in cash the sum of USD188,858.00( one hundred and earthy eight thousand eight hundred and fifty eight united state dollars) only from Nigeria to Dubia, United Arab Emirate falsely declared  to the Nigerian Customs Service the sum of forty five thousand dollars ( forty five thousand united state dollars) only instead of the said sum of USD 188,858.00 as required under Section 12 of the foreign exchange ( monitoring and miscellaneous provisions) Act Cap F34 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2 (3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition act 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the money laundering prohibition act 2011.”