The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into Okorie Sunday, who was arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for false currency declaration.
Sunday, who arrived from Johannesburg, South Africa, on March 19, 2025, initially declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk. However, a subsequent search revealed an additional $299,000 concealed in various packages, bringing the total to $578,000. Authorities also discovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 among his belongings.
A statement released on Saturday by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 officially took over the case on March 21, following a handover from the NCS Area Comptroller at the airport.
Speaking during the handover, an NCS official, Harrison, stated that the act violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, which requires passengers to declare any currency exceeding $10,000 when entering or leaving the country.
The acting Zonal Director of EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmed Ghali, commended the NCS for its cooperation and emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in tackling financial crimes.
“We are here today to take over one passenger coming from South Africa for falsely declaring the cash he was carrying. I want members of the public to be aware that it is mandatory to declare any cash in excess of $10,000, as required by the money laundering law,” Ghali said.
He warned that false or non-declaration of foreign currency poses a risk to Nigeria’s financial system and could facilitate illicit financial flows.
“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 work together to strengthen the economy and financial sector,” he added.
The EFCC is expected to carry out further investigations to determine the source and intended use of the undeclared funds.
