Coronavirus symptoms may have been a blessing in disguise for a Chinese man as he has escaped being jailed by a judge in Abuja.
Justice Babatunde Quadri of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, May 11, 2020, chose not to sentence the man, Li Pin, although he ordered the final forfeiture of his $300,000 to the Nigerian government.
According to a report in Linda Ikeji Blog, the judge had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the money following an exparte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Yan Pin stood trial for a money laundering charge leveled against him by the EFCC over the said sum after intelligence led to his arrest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, for failing to declare the money in his possession, as he attempted to board a flight to China en-route Dubai.
Justice Quadri in his judgment noted that the prosecution has proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt and found the defendant guilty of the charges, according to Section 2, sub-section (5) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011, as amended in 2012.
The defense counsel in its response pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, as the convict, he said had invested his resources to the development of Nigeria, and currently facing difficult health challenges.
He also noted that his client has no prior criminal conviction.
While ordering that the said sum be forfeited to the Federal Government, Justice Quadri, saved the convict a jail term on the ground that he had earlier filed for a medical leave over alleged COVID 19 symptoms that included persistent headache, insomnia, and fatigue.
