The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have
arrested two suspects over an attempt to smuggle more than $238,858 ( two
hundred and thirty eight thousand, eight hundred and fifty eight United States
Dollars) out of the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,
Abuja.
One
of the suspects, Abdulrasheed Ibrahim was nabbed on Wednesday November 7 as he
prepared to board a Dubai, the United Arab Emirates bound Ethiopian Airline. A
total of $188,858 (one hundred and eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and
fifty eight United States Dollars) was found on him. He had declared the sum of
forty five thousand USD ($45,000) only for a search on him to reveal additional
$143, 858.
Further
search reveals that he was carrying forty British Pounds and 5753grams of solid
gold worth thirty four million five hundred and eighteen thousand naira (N34,
518,000).
The suspect is still being interrogated.
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. He 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, nor was he 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 the
investigation.
investigation.
The
arrest of the duo comes on the heels of similar arrests in two of the nation’s
other major gateways, 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 for attempting to smuggle
$7million out of the country.
When
he was arrested, he declared that he had only $4.5million on him but thorough
search showed that he was actually carrying $7,049,444 (Seven million, Forty
Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty Four United States Dollars).
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. He was
arrested as he prepared to board a plane for Dubai, the United Emirates en
route to 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.
a search revealed that he was actually carrying $286,000.
On
Sunday, September 30, 2012 operatives of the Commission arrested one Alhaji
Tasiu Ilu Kura, a businessman with $700,000 (about N112m) at the Mallam Aminu
Kano International Airport, Kano. The suspect who hails from Kura Local
Government in Kano State, was arrested en route Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Under
declaring cash at entry and exit points in the country are criminal offence and
the person making the declaration risk losing 25 percent of the money not
declared or a two year jail term; or both