The trial of Li Yanping, a Chinese national who is facing a one-count charge of money laundering for concealing $300,000 began on April 17, 2018 with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, presenting three witnesses. .
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Yanping, who was arraigned on March 28, 2018 before Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja, was arrested on March 15, 2018 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the Presidential Task Force on Trans Border Cash Movement. .
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He failed to disclose the cash on him. He was subsequently handed over to the #EFCC by officers of the Nigerian Customs Service, and his trip to Dubai truncated.
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While being led in evidence by prosecution counsel, G.K. Latona, the first prosecution witness, PW1, Yahaya Ishaq, an officer of the Nigerian Customs attached to the Task Force narrated how Yanping was arrested. .
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He said: “We received intel that there was a Chinese national carrying a large sum of foreign currency who was about to travel to Dubai and upon hearing the information we proceeded to the immigration checkpoints where we met other officers at the final screening point.
“The currency control officer on duty confirmed that no one stopped Yanping for checking. Consequently, we discovered $200,000 concealed in black nylon bags in the briefcase which Yanping was carrying as hand luggage alongside $100,000 hidden in the defendant’s jacket.” Ishaq, under cross-examination by the defence counsel, P.I.N. Ikwueto, SAN, further shed light on the activities of the Task Force.
“The passengers declare their funds immediately at the immigration interrogation points and checking of passengers before boarding is done in an open space,” he said.
He added that intending passengers are also given currency declaration forms to fill at the currency control desks. He thereafter, identified the currency declaration form filled by Yanping, which was admitted by the trial judge as Exhibit A.