UPDATE: Businessman Arrested at Lagos Airport over $578,000 Cash, Collapses in Court

Lagos – The trial of businessman Okorie Sunday, who was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on March 19, 2025 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , for carrying $578,000 in cash took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as he collapsed in the dock while attempting to change his plea. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he remains under medical observation. The shocking incident occurred at the Federal High Court in Lagos during his trial for alleged money laundering and currency violations. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged him with four counts of financial crimes, to which he initially pleaded not guilty. However, during Wednesday’s court proceedings, his lawyer, Uche Okoronkwo, informed the court that Okorie had decided to change his plea to guilty on two of the four charges.

As the court registrar was about to re-read the charges, Okorie suddenly collapsed in the dock, causing panic in the courtroom. His wife and daughter, who were present, burst into tears as court officials scrambled to assist him. He was carried out of the courtroom and transported to a medical facility for urgent treatment.

Court officials later confirmed that Okorie had been experiencing health complications but had not disclosed any serious medical condition before the hearing. His lawyer has yet to make any official statement on his current condition or the cause of the collapse.

Lagos Airport

Justice Deinde Dipeolu, who was presiding over the case, immediately stood down the matter following the incident. The EFCC counsel, Chineye Okezie, also confirmed that Okorie had agreed to plead guilty to counts one and two while the commission sought to withdraw counts three and four.

Outside the courtroom, there was palpable tension as family members and sympathizers gathered, anxiously waiting for updates on Okorie’s health. Security operatives and court officials advised members of the public to remain calm, assuring that further announcements would be made in due course.

Prior to his arrest, Okorie had been intercepted by the Nigerian Customs Service upon his arrival from Johannesburg aboard a South African Airways flight. At the airport’s currency declaration desk, he declared only $279,000, but upon further search, officials discovered an additional $299,000 concealed in his belongings. The authorities also recovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 note among the undeclared cash.

The EFCC had argued that Okorie’s actions violated the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as well as the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. If convicted, he could face a lengthy prison sentence and substantial financial penalties.

A medical expert, who spoke anonymously, suggested that stress and anxiety could have played a role in Okorie’s collapse. “It is not uncommon for individuals facing severe legal consequences to experience sudden health crises due to extreme pressure,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the EFCC has assured the public that the case will proceed as soon as Okorie recovers. “We remain committed to ensuring justice takes its full course,” an official from the commission stated.