https://thenationonlineng.net/appeal-court-affirms-conviction-of-congolese-for-551225-money-laundering/

The Court of Appeal in Lagos Tuesday affirmed the conviction of a Congolese, Kutumisana Blaise, and the forfeiture of $551,225 to the federal government.

In a unanimous judgment, three justices of the appellate court l – Mohammed Garba, Tom Yakubu and Jamilu Tukur – upheld the July 7, 2015 verdict of Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The appellate court further concurred with the decision of the lower court over the forfeiture of the money, saying that the said amount was properly forfeited to the Federal Government.

On why the judgment of the lower court was affirmed, Justice Yakubu, who read the lead judgment, said, “I have myself perused the pieces of evidence proffered by the witnesses at the court below vis-a-vis the findings made by the learned trial judge which ultimately culminated in the conviction of the appellant (Blaise).

“I am satisfied that those findings are clearly borne out of the evidence placed before his lordship. The findings are, to my mind, unassailable. I have no reason whatsoever to tamper or interfere with them. I affirm them accordingly. In the end, I resolve the sole issue in this appeal against the appellant.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) had arraigned the convict on April 21, 2015 before Justice Buba.

EFCC counsel Abba Muhammed urged Justice Buba to convict Mr. Blaise, following his failure to declare the said $551,225 in his possession to the men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the point of entry into Nigeria.

According to Mr. Abba, Blaise’s action is contrary to Section 2 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No 1 of 2012.

In his judgment on July 7, 2015, Justice Buba upheld the argument of the EFCC’s lawyer and sentenced Mr. Blaise accordingly

The judge further directed that the said $551,225, which Mr. Blaise failed to declare, be forfeited to the federal government.

Dissatisfied with the verdict of Justice Buba, the convict approached the Court of Appeal, Lagos, for intervention, asking the appellate court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.