False currency declaration: EFCC commences investigation into $578,000 scandal in Lagos

Stanley Ihedigbo

A suspect, Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, with $578,000, is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly concealing the currency in different packages.

According to the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale, the investigations commenced, when the Area Comptroller in charge of the Nigeria Custom Services (NCS) at the airport on Friday, March 21, 2025, handed over Sunday to the EFCC for false currency declaration.

The suspect was arrested by the Customs upon arrival in the country from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

On arrival, he approached the Currency Declaration Desk and declared the sum of $279,000.

However, an additional sum of $299,000,  was found to be neatly concealed in different packages, thereby totaling $578,000.

During further examination, the suspect was found to have also concealed the sum of 100 Euros as well as a counterfeit $250 .”

Speaking during the handing over, Harrison said: “ This is in contravention of the provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, which stipulates that any currency or other forms of negotiable instruments, where the value exceeds $10,000 threshold or its equivalent must be properly declared for inbound and outbound passengers.”

Harrison, who spoke on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, added that “ The Command will be handing over a total sum of $578,000 to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for false currency declaration.”

While receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ahmed Ghali, commended the NCS for its cooperation with the EFCC.

He stated that inter-agency collaboration was very crucial to achieving a common goal, adding “We are here today to take over one passenger coming from South Africa for falsely declaring the cash he was carrying along. I want members of the public to be wary of this kind of act. It is incumbent on every person going out or coming into the country to declare any cash over $10,000. It is mandatory by the provisions of our laws, especially the money laundering law”.

He also appealed to the members of the public to desist from the act of false declaration or non-declaration, adding that the long arm of the laws would always catch up with anyone involved in the criminal act.

“ We will not allow anyone to sabotage the economy or the nation’s financial system. This is because this kind of act exposes the country to a lot of risks, in terms of money laundering; it also makes the country be seen as a haven of fraud. We will continue to synergise to make sure we have a better country, a stronger economy and a more functional financial system”, he said.