A Federal High Court,  Lagos, has found an American, Parker Damian George,  guilty of money laundering.

The court ordered a forfeiture of 40 per cent of the total sum found on him at the point of arrest.

According to a statement by the Acting Head, Media and Publicity, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,  Wilson Uwujaren,  the trial judge, Justice Mohammed  Idris, convicted George under the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011.

George was said to have been arrested on  November 29 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos during a secondary check at the boarding gate with $42,700.

Uwujaren stated that the convict was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agent and was handed over to the EFCC for prosecution.

He stated that the court considered the convict as a first offender without previous criminal record when it ordered that  he should forfeit 40 per cent of the total undeclared sum found on him at the point of arrest.

The charge preferred against the convict by the EFCC read in part, “That on or about November 30, 2011 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos  within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court failed to make a declaration of the sum of USD 42,700 (Forty two thousand and seven hundred dollars) which  you were transporting from Nigeria to the United States of America to the  Nigerian Customs Service as required under section 2(3) of the  Money Laundering Act of 2011 and Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange  (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provision) Act Cap. F3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the Money Laundering Act of 2011.”

Uwujaren referred to the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 which stipulates that “any person who falsely declares or fails to make a declaration to the Nigerian Customs Service pursuant to section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to forfeit not less that 25 per cent of the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonment of not less than two years.”

-Punch