Court Sentences Man to One Year Imprisonment for $5,000 Money Laundering in Lagos

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, has convicted and sentenced a man, Mbonu Somto, to one year in prison for laundering $5,000 (Five Thousand US Dollars).

Somto was arraigned on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of money laundering.

According to the charge, Somto knowingly engaged in the concealment and movement of criminal proceeds amounting to $5,000, thereby violating Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.

Upon arraignment, he pleaded guilty, prompting the prosecution to present a summary of the case and submit key pieces of evidence before the court.

Justice Aneke found Somto guilty based on the facts presented and sentenced him to one year in prison.

The conviction underscores the EFCC’s continued efforts in tackling financial crimes and enforcing Nigeria’s anti-money laundering framework.