The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested two suspects over an attempt to smuggle more than $238,858 out of the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
One of the suspects, Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, was nabbed on November 7 as he prepared to board a Dubai, United Arab Emirates bound Ethiopian Airline.
A total of $188,858 was found on Ibrahim.
He had declared $45,000, only for a search on him to reveal additional $143,858.
Further search revealed that he was carrying forty British Pounds and 5,753 grams of solid gold worth N34,518,000.
The suspect is still being interrogated
The second suspect, Hyginus Ezedimbu, was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on November 3 as he prepared to board an Ethiopian Airline on his way to China.
Ezedimbu was caught with $50,000 but he declared $49,971.
Apart from under declaring the money in his possession, Ezedimbu could also not explain the ownership of the money.
He was also not able to produce the receipt with which he purportedly purchased the forex from a Bureau De Change.
Musa Adamu, operator of Majia Bureau de Change, Abuja , who purportedly sold the currency to Ezedimbu has been questioned even as the suspect has been released on administrative bail, pending the conclusion of investigation.
The arrest of the duo comes on the heels of similar arrests at two of the nation’s other major gateway, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and the Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano .
Abubakar Tijani Sheriff, who has since been convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos, was arrested on September 27, 2012 at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport en route Dubai, United Arab Emirates with $7 million.
When Sheriff was arrested, he declared that he had only $4.5 million on him but a thorough search showed that he was actually carrying $7,049,444.
Two days after Sheriff’s arrest, the anti-graft agency similarly apprehended one Nkem Sebastian for attempting to smuggle $286,000 out of the country.
Sebastian was arrested as he prepared to board a plane for Dubai, the United Emirates en route China.
When the money was discovered, Sebastian disclosed that he had only $200,000 on him.
But a search revealed that he was actually carrying $286,000.
On September 30, 2012, operatives of the Commission arrested one Alhaji Tasiu Ilu Kura, a businessman with $700,000 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
The suspect, who hails from Kura Local Government Area of Kano State, was arrested en route Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Under declaring cash at entry and exit points in the country are criminal offences and the person making the declaration risks losing 25 per cent of the money not declared or a two year jail term or both.
Trending
- Traditional ruler shot dead inside palace
- Primate Ayodele to Yoruba Nation agitators: You can’t break Nigeria
- Police intercept bags of Indian Hemp at Lagos jetty
- Enugu, families to give Ibu, Junior Pope befitting burial
- Police arrest suspects for attempting to disrupt inauguration of commissioners
- Police rescue three children locked up by grandmother + Photo
- Police foil attack in Katsina, neutralise suspected bandit
- US vetoes Palestine’s request for full UN membership