A 52-year-old British-Nigerian woman, Sarah Olukoya has been arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) for attempting to travel with a large sum of cash.
Olukoya was accused of money laundering after she was found in possession of $114,245 and €2,020 in cash wrapped inside 13 white envelopes, The Nation reports.
She was said to have been arrested while attempting to board a flight to London at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
“The suspect was found with $114,245 and €2,020 that were not declared in accordance with the law at the airport,” NDLEA Director of Assets and Financial Investigations, Victoria Egbasesaid.
In her defence however, Olukoya said that she had earned the money legally and was forced to travel with cash due to the strict foreign exchange provisions in Nigeria.
“I am an architect based in London. The money is part of rent paid to me by tenants in a property I inherited. It is also part of architectural and interior decoration work I did as well as loans from family members,” Olukoya said.
“I used to send money through the bank but the new regulation made me to carry cash. I intend to use the money to pay my children’s school fees and my medical bills,” she added.
Nigeria’s Money Laundering Prohibition Act requires that persons who wish to transport large sums of money must declare the funds or forfeit same.
The offence also carries a possible prison term of two years.
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