From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Operatives of the Lagos Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into a suspect, Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, who was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos with $578,000.
The suspect was handed over to the EFCC by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for false currency declaration.
According to the NCS, Sunday had declared $279,000 upon arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa, but was found to have concealed an additional $299,000, totalling $578,000.
He also had 100 Euros and a counterfeit $250 bill.
According to Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the investigations commenced on Friday, March 21, 2025, shortly after the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the airport, E J Harrison, handed over Sunday to the EFCC for false currency declaration.
“The suspect was arrested by the Customs upon arrival in the country from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
“On arrival, he had approached the Currency Declaration Desk and declared the sum of $279,000.
“However, an additional sum of $299,000 was found to be neatly concealed in different packages, thereby totalling $578,000.
“During further examination, the suspect was found to have also concealed the sum of 100 Euros, as well as a counterfeit $250”, Oyewale said.
He further quoted Harrison who spoke on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi as saying, “This is in contravention of the provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, which stipulates that any currency or other forms of negotiable instruments, where the value exceeds $10,000 threshold or its equivalent must be properly declared for inbound and outbound passengers.
“The Command will be handing over a total sum of $578,000 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for false currency declaration”.
Receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, was said to have commended the NCS for its cooperation with the commission.
“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 wary 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”, Oyewale quoted Ghali.