BY SAM ALFAN.
A Nigerian National who sent millions of dollars from USA concealed in a jacket is set to loose money to Kenya government.
This is after Kenya Asset Recovery Agency filed an application before High Court Anti-Corruption Division seeking to forfeit USD 28,000 equivalent to over Sh 3.1 million to Kenya government.
The agency told the court that Peter Oluwafemi Olaiwon has failed to explain the source of money, making the agency believe that he was using Kenya as a smuggling route for illicit funds.
According to the agency, the court documents shows there are reasonable grounds to suspect the funds in issue may be a direct or indirect benefits, profits and or proceeds of crime obtained from a money laundering scheme or intended for the commission of crime.
“We suspect the funds are proceeds of crime obtained from a complex money laundering scheme and liable to be forfeited to the state”, ARA said in court documents.
The money was shipped to the country from South Carolina, USA from a woman identified as Linda Dye, concealed in a bag that contained a jacket, six novels, seven T- shirt and two shirt.
When asked about the money, Olaiwon allegedly stated the parcel was sent by a relative he identified as Linda Dye who stays in USA. Linda, he allegedly said, is a sister to his mother and that she and her aunt did not know that they were supposed to declare the cash.
The Nigeria further said he does music production which earns approximately US $ 2000 (Sh227,000) per month and does poultry farming which also gives him an income of approximately US $ 44,000 (Sh4.9 million) per year.
“That when I came to Kenya I had about US $ 4000 in my account for use during my holiday,” he allegedly said in a statement filed at the agency.
ARA, however says the money is suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The Nigerian was charged on November 8, with offences of financial promotion under proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act. He denied the charges and was released on a cash bail of Sh150,000 and a personal bond of Sh200,000.
