The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned the duo of Kenneth Elele and Duru Patrick Uchenna before Justice Adebimpe Olatoregun of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N5,550,000.

The complainant, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), alleged that the suspects were arrested on October 16, 2015 during an inward screening of passengers at the Seme Border for unlawful possession of N3,300,000 concealed in a black ‘Bagco’ bag inside a V-boot Mercedes Benz car with registration number: Lagos MUS 121 BX.

The agency also alleged that an undeclared sum of N2,250,000 was also recovered from the suspects in a white cello-taped parcel under the battery of a V-boot Mercedes Benz with registration number: Lagos MUS 121 BX.

Count one reads: “That you, Kenneth Elele and Duru Patrick Uchenna, on or about the 16th day of October 2015 at Seme Border within the judicial division of this Honourable Court failed to declare the sum of N3,300,000.00 (Three Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) to the Nigerian Customs Service by concealing same in a black Bagco bag inside an ash colour V- boot Mercedes Benz car with registration number MUS 121 BX Lagos contrary to the provisions of Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering Act, 2011 (as amended by Act No.1 of 2012) and punishable under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering Act, 2011(as amended by Act No.1 of 2012).”

In view of the pleas of not guilty, the prosecution counsel, S.O. Daji, asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody.

However, counsel the accused persons, U.P.E. Nnaji, told the court that he was served with the charge towards the close of work on Wednesday, October 25, 2017.

He, therefore, pleaded with the court for a short date to respond appropriately.

Consequently, Justice Olatoregun ordered the accused persons to be remanded in Kirikiri Prison, Lagos and adjourned the matter to November 13, 2017, for commencement of trial.