The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into Okorie Sunday, a man arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on March 19, 2025, for making a false currency declaration.
Sunday, who arrived from Johannesburg, South Africa, declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk.
However, a subsequent search revealed an additional $299,000 concealed in various packages, bringing the total to $578,000. Authorities also discovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 among his belongings.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 officially took over the case on March 21, 2025, after the NCS handed over the suspect. Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, stated that Sunday’s actions violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, which mandates the declaration of any currency exceeding $10,000.
An NCS official, Harrison, highlighted that the act contravenes the law, and acting Zonal Director of EFCC Lagos, Ahmed Ghali, praised the collaboration between the NCS and EFCC. Ghali emphasized that the public must declare any amount above $10,000 when entering or leaving the country.
He warned against failing to declare or falsely declaring foreign currency, stating that such offenses undermine Nigeria’s financial integrity and expose the country to money laundering risks.
“We will not allow anyone to undermine our economy or financial system,” Ghali remarked, stressing that inter-agency cooperation is crucial for protecting the nation’s financial reputation globally.
This case highlights the EFCC’s continued efforts to enforce financial regulations and prevent illicit activities such as money laundering.
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