A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, Kano State has convicted a currency courier, Bashir Abdu, who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for not declaring the $130,000 found on him at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on his way to the United Arab Emirates.
Justice Fatu Riman on Wednesday ordered the accused, who pleaded guilty to the one count charge of money laundering preferred against him by the EFCC, to forfeit 50 per cent of the undeclared $130,000.
The convict was arraigned by the EFCC on January 15, 2013.
His charge reads: “That you Bashir Abdu on or about 18th December 2013 at Aminu Kano International Airport, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting cash sum of $130,000USD (One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars Only) SA R350,000 (Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Riyals) and three Gold Bars worth N104,458,200.00 (One Hundred and Four Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred Naira Only) from Nigeria to Dubai, United Arab Emirates falsely declared to the Nigeria Custom Service only SA R350,000 and Three Gold Bars worth N104,458,200.00 (One Hundred and Four Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred Naira Only), refused to declare the said sum of $130,000 (One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars) as required under section 12 of Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F 34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.”
This is the second person that will be convicted for currency under declaration in two days in Kano.
On January 15, Umar Musa Kibiya, who was also prosecuted by the EFCC, was convicted for failing to declare the $80,000 found on him to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Another cash courier convicted over $130,000
