The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into two suspects arrested for allegedly failing to declare a total sum 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 an 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, a physical examination conducted by Customs officers allegedly uncovered an additional undeclared $120,000 on Waya, bringing the total in his possession to $250,000, while Namadi was found with an extra $31,600, raising his total to $211,600.
The anti-graft agency said the undeclared funds contravened 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, commended the longstanding collaboration between the Customs Service and the EFCC in tackling illicit cash movements and financial crimes.
“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 of the EFCC, Friday S. Ebelo, assured that the commission would carry out a thorough investigation and ensure diligent prosecution of the matter.
“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.
He also praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its sustained cooperation with the commission, describing inter-agency collaboration as essential in combating financial crimes and illegal cash movement across borders.
The EFCC said the suspects, alongside the recovered foreign currency and other exhibits, had been transferred to the Kano Zonal Directorate for further investigation and possible prosecution.
