Under Declaration: Lebanese Convicted, Loses $52,550, €32,250 To FG
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday secured the conviction a Lebanese, Haytham Aldahrah, who was arrested at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano State.
Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, explained in a statement that the convict was arrested while trying to board a flight to Cairo.
According to him, Aldahra had refused to declare the sum of $105,000 and €65,000 respectively to the Nigeria Customs Service.
“Upon his arrest, Aldahrah declared the sum of $95,000 (Ninety-Five Thousand Dollars) but a search conducted on him, revealed that he was carrying a further sum of $105,000 (One Hundred and Five Thousand Dollars) which he concealed from the authorities,” the statement read.
Upon the arraignment of the convict on October 16, Uwujaren said he pleaded not guilty to the two counts.
However, Aldahrah was said to have changed cis plea to ‘guilty’ two days later.
“In view of his latest plea, prosecution counsel Mohammed Gambo urged the court to convict him accordingly. Justice Allagoa granted the prayer of the prosecution and convicted the defendant on the two counts,” the statement added.
The judge sentenced the convict to forfeit 50 per cent each of the undeclared sum he was found with – that is $52,550 and €32,250 to the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.
