The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of two suspects for attempting to smuggle more than $238,858 out of the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, one of the two suspects was allegedly arrested on Wednesday while preparing to board a Dubai, United Arab Emirates bound Ethiopian Airline.
The anti-graft agency said it found a total of $188,858 on him after he had declared that he only had $45,000.
According to the EFCC, a further search on him showed that he was carrying £40 and 5753 grams of solid gold worth N34, 518, 000.
The EFCC, which said the suspect was still undergoing interrogation, also confirmed that the second suspect, Hyginus Ezedimbu was also arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on November 3 as he prepared to board an Ethiopian Airline on his way to China.
This second suspect was carrying a total of $50,000 but declared $49,971 according to the EFCC. The EFCC said that apart from under declaring the money in his possession, Ezedimbu could also not explain the ownership of the money. He was also not able to produce the receipt with which he purportedly purchased the forex from a Bureau De Change.
The agency said that Musa Adamu Majia, the operator of the Bureau de Change in Abuja, which purportedly sold the currency to Ezedimbu has been questioned while the suspect has been released on administrative bail, pending the conclusion of investigation.
It can be recalled that the EFCC had earlier made some arrests in this regard as the illegal carrying of raw cash increases.
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.
Two days after Sheriff’s arrest, the anti-graft agency also announced the arrest of 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 China after he had declared that he only had $200,000 on him.
On Sunday, September 30, 2012 operatives of the Commission arrested one Alhaji Tasiu Ilu Kura, a businessman with $700,000 amounting to 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.
The EFCC says under-declaration of funds by people at exit points could make them risk losing 25 percent of the money not declared or a two year jail term; or even both.
