•Dollar notes
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced an investigation into the man arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service, Okorie Sunday, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, for false currency declaration.
Sunday was apprehended upon his arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa, on March 19, 2025, reports Sunday PUNCH.
Though he declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk, a subsequent search revealed an additional $299,000 hidden in various packages, bringing the total to $578,000.
Authorities also discovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 among his belongings.
A statement yesterday by the Head of EFCC’s Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 officially took over the case on March 21, 2025, after the NCS Area Comptroller at the airport handed over the suspect.
Speaking at the handover, an NCS official, Harrison, stated that the act violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, which mandates that any currency exceeding $10,000 must be properly declared by inbound and outbound passengers.
While receiving the suspect, Oyewale said the acting Zonal Director of EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmed Ghali, commended the NCS for its collaboration.
He stated that inter-agency collaboration was very crucial to achieving a common goal, adding that, “We are here today to take over one passenger coming from South Africa for falsely declaring the cash he was carrying along . I want members of the public to be weary of this kind of act . It is incumbent on each and every person going out or coming into the country to declare any cash in excess of $10,000. It is mandatory by virtue of the provisions of our laws, especially the money laundering law”
Ghali warned against false or non-declaration of foreign currency, stressing that such offenses undermine the country’s financial integrity.
“We will not allow anyone to sabotage the economy or the financial system. This kind of act exposes the country to risks, including money laundering, and gives Nigeria a bad reputation globally. We will continue to synergize efforts to strengthen the economy and financial sector,” Ghali stated.
