The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched a probe into Okorie Sunday, who was apprehended at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with a whopping $578,000 in undeclared cash.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the investigation in a statement on Saturday, revealing that the suspect would face court charges once the investigation concludes.
Sunday, who had arrived from Johannesburg, South Africa, was initially cleared after declaring $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk. However, sharp-eyed Customs officers uncovered an additional $299,000 hidden in separate packages, bringing the total to $578,000. To make matters worse, further inspection revealed the man was also carrying €100 and a fake $250 note, complicating his violation of currency declaration laws.
Effiong Harrison, Area Comptroller of Customs at the airport, condemned the act, citing a violation of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act of 2011, which requires anyone entering or leaving Nigeria with over $10,000 to declare the amount.
In handing over the suspect to the EFCC, Harrison confirmed that the $578,000 would be formally handed over for further investigation. EFCC’s Acting Zonal Director in Lagos, Ahmed Ghali, praised the cooperation between the EFCC and Customs, stressing the importance of inter-agency collaboration.
Ghali also issued a public reminder that anyone traveling with amounts exceeding $10,000 must declare them according to Nigerian law, warning that attempts to bypass these regulations will face serious legal consequences.
“We will not tolerate actions that harm our economy or financial system. Such activities undermine financial transparency and make Nigeria appear as a hub for illegal activities,” Ghali stated.
The EFCC’s commitment to enforcing financial integrity remains firm, as the investigation continues.
