Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned to August 19, 2025, the trial of Phil-Olumba Sheila, accused of failing to declare foreign currency totaling $14,567, £1,030, and CA$40 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
The date was fixed after the testimony of Mrs. Stella Ogar, a Nigeria Customs Service officer, who appeared as a prosecution witness and was led in evidence by prosecution counsel Okezie Chineye.
Ogar told the court that the defendant was intercepted during inward clearance from the United Kingdom.
According to her, Sheila 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 testified.
The second prosecution witness, EFCC operative Felicia Paul, confirmed that Customs handed the defendant over to the anti-graft agency.
She 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 objected, arguing that the statement was not obtained voluntarily and without the presence of a lawyer, in violation of legal requirements.
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Justice Dipeolu, sitting as vacation judge, adjourned further hearing to August 19, 2025.
The EFCC has filed a three-count charge against Sheila, accusing her of making false declarations to Customs and failing to declare foreign currency, in violation of Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The three-count charge filed by the EFCC states: “That you, Phil-Olumba Sheila, July 22, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, falsely declared the sum of $4,000 to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, whilst having the total sum of $14,567 and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Phil-Olumba Sheila, on July 22, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of 40CAD to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Phil-Olumba Sheila, on July 22, 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, falsely declared the sum of 1,000GBP to the Nigerian Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, whilst having the total sum of 1,030GBP, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
