The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, arraigned Okorie Sylvernus Sunday before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged money laundering and possession of counterfeit currency.
Sunday was arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, while attempting to smuggle $578,000 out of the country. He allegedly concealed $299,000 of the sum inside relaxer containers and failed to declare it to customs officials.
The defendant is facing a four-count charge, including failure to declare funds and possession of counterfeit currency. One of the counts reads:
“That you, Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, on the 19th day of March, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $299,000 (Two Hundred and Ninety-Nine Thousand United States Dollars), which you concealed in relaxer containers to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Sunday pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him before Justice Deinde I. Dipeolu.
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Following his plea, EFCC counsel, C.C. Okezie, urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility and requested an accelerated hearing, stating that a witness was already available for trial.
However, defense counsel, U. Okoronkwo, appealed for his client to be remanded in EFCC custody instead. He also requested a short adjournment to confer with his client on “the way forward.”
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Dipeolu adjourned the case to March 26, 2025, for trial commencement and ordered the defendant’s remand in a correctional facility.