The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Office has secured the conviction of one Rabiu Mohammed Ahmad before Justice Z.B. Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna on a one-count charge bordering on non-declaration of currency in the sum of $375,000 dollars.
Ahmad, it was gathered, was arrested by officers of the Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Kaduna International Airport on March 3, 2018.
Our correspondent further gathered that the officers while on duty intercepted a bag and when it was checked, they found $375,000 dollars belonging to a passenger in the name of Rabiu Mohammed at the departure hall of the Kaduna International Airport.
When the case came up for hearing at the last adjourned date, Ahmad pleaded not guilty to the charge.
However, at the resume hearing on Thursday, the defence counsel, Husseini Abdu, informed the court that the defendant had changed his plea guilty.
An application for a plea bargain was also brought before the court, which was granted by the trial judge.
Prosecuting Counsel, S.H. Sa’ad, thereafter, reviewed the facts as contained in the charge and tendered seven exhibits and urged the court to convict him based on the exhibits tendered and his guilty plea.
In his ruling, Justice Abubakar convicted him and sentenced him to two years in prison with an option of N200,000.
In line with the relevant laws, he was also ordered to forfeit 15 percent of the undeclared funds to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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