A businessman, Sunday Okorie, collapsed in court on Wednesday while standing in the dock.
He had been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday, facing charges of failing to declare $299,000 and possessing counterfeit foreign currency.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu had ordered Okorie to be remanded in custody after he pleaded not guilty on Tuesday. The judge then adjourned the trial to Wednesday.
When the case resumed, Okorie’s lawyer, Uche Okoronkwo, informed the court that his client intended to change his plea to guilty.
Okoronkwo requested that the charge be read to Okorie again.
The lawyer for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Chineye Okezie, confirmed that Okorie had indeed decided to plead guilty.
Okezie said, “In view of the defendant’s wish to change his plea from not guilty to guilty on counts one and two, the commission would like to withdraw counts three and four.”
Justice Dipeolu agreed to withdraw counts three and four and instructed the court registrar to read counts one and two to the defendant.
As the registrar began reading the charges, he asked Okorie if he understood English, but Okorie did not respond. Moments later, he collapsed in the dock.
The EFCC charged Okorie with four counts of money laundering and importing counterfeit currency.
Prosecutor, Chineye Okezie, told the court that Okorie hid $299,000, counterfeit $250, and €100 in relaxer containers, attempting to pass them through the Nigerian Customs Service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Okezie stated that Okorie committed the offense on March 19, 2025.
She noted that Okorie illegally imported five counterfeit $50 notes, totaling $250, into Nigeria. The fake notes had the serial numbers MB67951730 D, MB93612802 A, MB67957416 D, MB67957308 D, and MB121997428 C.
Okezie further stated that Okorie was aware the money was counterfeit but still kept it in his possession.
