A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos found has found a Congolese citizen Kutumisan Mbuta Blaise guilty on a count of failure to make declaration of his foreign currency to the Nigerian Customs Service on arrival in the country as required by the law.
Justice Ibrahim Buba ruled on Tuesday that Blaise forfeit a sum of $511,225 to the Nigerian Federal Government.
Rejecting the argument of Blaise’ lawyer, Mr. Sina Ibrahim, that the Congolese was ignorant of the protocol, the judge said the totality of the evidence placed before him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission showed that Blaise was not a first-time visitor to Nigeria, and could thus not claim to be ignorant.
Buba held, “The court also agrees with the prosecution that under the provision of the law which the accused was charged, it is immaterial whether the funds found on the accused were proceeds of illegal activities or not.”
The judge said the evidence before him was clear, saying he had no difficulty in interpreting the provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
He held, “The court is satisfied that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, accordingly this court hereby finds you guilty.
“You are hereby convicted of the offence of failure to declare a sum of $511,225 in contravention of Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended by Act 1 of 2012.”