UNDER-DECLARATION! Lebanese loses N32 million to FG
A Lebanese national, Haytham Aldahrah, has been asked to forfeit the sum N32m in total to the Federal Government for failing to fully declare the total amount of N64m he had on him to the Nigeria Customs Service.
Aldahrah was arrested with $105,000 (N37.8m) and €65,000 (N27.1m) at the Aminu Kano International Airport.
However, the convict declared only $95,000, according to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
When he was searched, however, an excess of $10,000 and €65,000 was found in his luggage.
The EFCC added,
“When the convict was arraigned on October 16, 2018, he pleaded not guilty to the two charges but two days later changed his plea to ‘guilty’.
“In view of his latest plea, prosecution counsel, Mohammed Gambo, urged the court to convict him accordingly.
“Justice Allagoa granted the prayers of the prosecution and convicted the defendant on the two counts. The judge sentenced the convict to forfeit 50 per cent each of the undeclared sum he was found with, that is $52,550 (N18.9m) and €32,250 (N13.4m) to the Treasury Single Account of the Federal Government.”