The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun investigating two suspects arrested for allegedly failing to declare $461,600 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
Jamilu Shuaibu Waya and Usman Namadi were intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, after arriving from Dubai on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941 on Friday, 8 May 2026.
According to the EFCC, the suspects initially declared $130,000 and $180,000 respectively at the airport’s currency declaration desk. A physical search by Customs officers allegedly uncovered an additional $120,000 on Waya, bringing his total to $250,000. Namadi was found with an extra $31,600, raising his total to $211,600.
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The anti-graft agency said the undeclared funds violated Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
During the handover, the acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller U.U. Adamu, praised the ongoing collaboration between Customs and the EFCC in curbing illicit cash movements. He noted that the partnership has been key in detecting and stopping illegal financial flows at the borders.
Receiving the suspects, Kano Zonal Director of the EFCC, Assistant Commander Friday S. Ebelo, said the commission would conduct a thorough investigation and ensure diligent prosecution. He stressed that inter-agency cooperation remains vital in tackling financial crimes and illegal cash movements across Nigeria’s borders.
The suspects, along with the recovered foreign currency and other exhibits, have been transferred to the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Directorate for further investigation.
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