A businessman, Sunday Okorie, collapsed in court on Wednesday while standing in the dock after pleading guilty to charges of money laundering and possession of counterfeit currency.
Okorie, who had been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday, was accused of failing to declare $299,000 and being in possession of counterfeit foreign currency. On Tuesday, after pleading not guilty, Justice Deinde Dipeolu had ordered Okorie to be remanded, and the trial was adjourned to Wednesday.
When proceedings resumed on Wednesday, Okorie’s lawyer, Uche Okoronkwo, informed the court that his client wished to change his plea to guilty. Okoronkwo requested that the charge be read to Okorie again, a request that was confirmed by the EFCC prosecutor, Chineye Okezie.
Okezie stated, "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, and the court proceeded to withdraw the latter counts. The court registrar was instructed to read counts one and two to the defendant.
However, as the registrar was about to read the charges, he asked Okorie if he understood English. When Okorie failed to respond, he collapsed in the dock. His wife and daughter, who were present in the courtroom, began crying, with Mrs. Okorie kneeling and crying out for help.
The EFCC had previously arraigned Okorie on four counts related to money laundering and the importation of counterfeit currency. The prosecution, led by Chineye Okezie, stated that Okorie had hidden $299,000, counterfeit $250, and €100 inside relaxer containers. He attempted to smuggle them through the Nigerian Customs Service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, on March 19, 2025.
The counterfeit $250 consisted of five fake $50 bills, which Okorie knew were fraudulent but still had in his possession. The EFCC cited violations of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Okorie's collapse has raised concerns, but no official reports have been released regarding his health status. The case is ongoing, with further developments expected.
