Court Remands Trader For Alleged Failure To Declare Foreign Currency In Lagos

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded a trader, Phil-Olumba Sheila for alleged failure to declare foreign currency totalling $14,567, £1,030, and CA$40 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Justice Dipeolu remanded Sheila at Kirikiri Correctional Centre after the testimony of the first prosecution witness, Mrs. Stella John Ogar, a Nigeria Customs Service officer who appeared as a prosecution witness.

Ogar, led in evidence by prosecutor Okezie Chineye, informed the judge that the defendant was intercepted during an inward clearance of a flight from the United Kingdom.

Sheila testified that the defendant declared only CA$4,000 despite being in possession of CA$14,000.

“We arrested her and handed her over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation,” she stated.

The second prosecution witness, EFCC operative Felicia Paul told the court that Sheila was interrogated and offered to make a written statement, which the EFCC sought to tender.

However, defence counsel Edwin Anikwem (SAN) objected to the move, arguing that the statement was not obtained voluntarily and without the presence of a lawyer, in violation of legal requirements.

Justice Dipeolu, sitting as a vacation judge, adjourned further hearing to August 19, 2025.

The EFCC filed a three-count charge against Sheila, accusing her of making false declarations to Customs and failing to declare foreign currency thereby violating Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.