A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos and presided over by Justice C.J. Nweke, on yesterday, October 23, 2012, convicted a bulk cash courier, Abubakar Sheriff Tijjani, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The convict pleaded guilty and was ordered to forfeit to government, 25% of the $2.549.444 (Two million, Five Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty Four United States Dollars) not declared to the security agencies before he was arrested by operatives of the EFCC at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.
Tijjani, a suspected bulk cash smuggler was intercepted by the Operatives of the EFCC, on Thursday, September 27, 2012, carrying $7,049.444(Seven million, Forty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty Four United States Dollars) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport en route to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
According to the spokesman for EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC, on Tuesday, arraigned him on a one-count charge. When the count was read to him, Tijjani pleaded guilty to the charge.
After listening to arguments from both counsels, Justice Aneke convicted the accused person. He said since the accused person had pleaded guilty, it showed he has taken full responsibility of the crime committed.
He said he would not hand the convict any jail term but that the convict should serve as deterrent that should guard him against committing such an act in future.
He upheld the defence counsel’s plea for mercy and asked the convict to forfeit 25 per cent of the undeclared sum to the federal government.
SOURCE: 24 October 2012.
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