The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has commenced the probe of one Haruna Yusuf over alleged multiple undeclared foreign currencies intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
In a statement issued on Monday, the anti-graft agency said the currencies, comprising $73,000, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals, were intercepted during routine screening of arriving passengers between August 8 and 12.
U U Adamu, acting customs area comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa command, said on August 8, custom officers intercepted an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage containing 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300 concealed inside footwear.
Four days later, officers also intercepted a luggage belonging to Yusuf, who arrived on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941.
He explained that secondary screening using non-intrusive inspection technology revealed $20,000 and £15,957 concealed inside sports shoes.
Adamu subsequently handed over Yusuf and the recovered currencies to the EFCC on behalf of the NCS.
The statement does not explicitly state whether Yusuf is the owner of the unaccompanied Saudi Riyals.
Adamu said the interceptions demonstrated the vigilance of customs officers in detecting cross-border movement of undeclared foreign currency, adding that the NCS would continue to strengthen collaboration with the EFCC and other agencies to combat financial crimes.
Receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede, Friday Ebelo, acting zonal director of the EFCC Kano directorate, said the failure to declare large sums of currency violated the money laundering (prevention and prohibition) act, 2022.
Ebelo urged travellers to comply with currency declaration requirements, noting that declaring money attracts no penalty and that legal concerns may arise from the source of undeclared funds.
He said the EFCC would conduct a thorough investigation and prosecute the matter in accordance with the law.
