The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun investigating two suspects accused of failing to declare a total of $461,600 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The suspects, identified as Jamilu Shuaibu Waya and Usman Namadi, were intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, after arriving from Dubai aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941 on Friday, May 8, 2026.
According to the EFCC, the suspects initially declared $130,000 and $180,000 respectively at the airport’s currency declaration desk.
However, Customs officers allegedly discovered additional undeclared cash during a physical search.
Authorities said Waya was found with an extra $120,000, increasing the total amount in his possession to $250,000, while Namadi allegedly had an additional $31,600, bringing his total to $211,600.
The anti-graft agency stated that the undeclared funds violate Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Speaking during the handover of the suspects to the EFCC, the acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller U.U. Adamu, praised the strong working relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service and the EFCC in tackling financial crimes and illegal cash movements.
“Let me express appreciation for the continuous collaboration with the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate for their support in realising our goal while combating the illegal movement of cash,” Adamu said.
Receiving the suspects, the Kano Zonal Director of the EFCC, Assistant Commander Friday S. Ebelo, assured that the commission would thoroughly investigate the case and prosecute anyone found guilty.
“The EFCC will conduct a thorough and uncompromising investigation into this matter. We will prosecute the case with the utmost diligence to ensure that violators of our anti-money laundering laws face the full weight of justice,” Ebelo stated.
The EFCC added that the suspects, the recovered foreign currency, and other exhibits have been transferred to the Kano Zonal Directorate for further investigation and possible prosecution.
