The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into two travellers arrested at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for allegedly failing to declare $461,600 in cash.
The suspects, Jamilu Shuaibu Waya and Usman Namadi, were intercepted on Friday, May 8, 2026, by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Kano/Jigawa Area Command, shortly after arriving from Dubai aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941.
According to the EFCC, both men initially declared $130,000 and $180,000 respectively at the airport’s currency declaration desk. A physical search by Customs officers, however, uncovered additional undeclared cash hidden on them. Officers found an extra $120,000 on Waya, bringing his total to $250,000, while Namadi was found with an additional $31,600, raising his total to $211,600.
The combined amount of $461,600 is said to contravene Sections 3 and 4 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which require travellers to declare cash or negotiable instruments above the approved threshold when entering or leaving Nigeria.
Speaking during the handover of the suspects, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller UU Adamu, praised the ongoing collaboration between Customs and the EFCC in tackling illicit cash movement. He noted that such inter-agency cooperation was critical to blocking financial crimes at Nigeria’s borders.
Receiving the suspects, the EFCC’s Kano Zonal Director, Assistant Commander Friday S. Ebelo, assured that the commission would carry out a thorough investigation.
“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 said.
The suspects and the recovered funds have been transferred to the EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate for further investigation and possible prosecution.
