A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday convicted a certain South African lady, Ngqula Nosisi Pam, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 1, 2016 after her arrest at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA.
Pam was convicted by Justice C.M.A Olatoregun for money laundering and bulk cash smuggling.
The charge against the convict reads: “That you, Ngqula Nosisi Pam on or about the 24th of March, 2015 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court had in possession cash in the sum of Three Hundred and Seventy Four Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Five United States of America Dollars ($374,355.00) which you transported from the Republic of South Africa to Lagos; and failed to declare the sum of Three Hundred and Fifty Five United States of America Dollars ($374,355.00) to the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service as required under the provisions of section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012”.
Justice Olatoregun did not take the plea of the convict who had earlier pleaded not guilty.
He ordered that the convict forfeit the entire sum of $374,355.00 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The judge also reportedly ordered the EFCC to remit the money to the Federal Government’s account within 29 days and file notice of remittance at the court.
Olatoregun however admonished the convict to shun illegality in the future.
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