Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano has convicted and sentenced one Salisu Ahmad for failing to declare large sums of foreign currency amounting to over ₦653 million to officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
Ahmad was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a one-count charge of non-declaration of funds, contrary to Sections 3(3) and 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
According to the charge, Ahmad was apprehended on July 7, 2025, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport while arriving from Saudi Arabia aboard Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET940. He was found in possession of undeclared sums including $420,900, £5,825, CFA3,946,500, and Cameroonian CFA224,000, which were hidden in polythene bags covered with clothing inside his luggage.
During the proceedings, Ahmad pleaded guilty to the charge. Prosecuting counsel Mustapha A. Maiwada requested the court to convict him in line with his plea.
Justice Shuaibu subsequently found Ahmad guilty and ordered the forfeiture of the entire undeclared funds to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Investigations revealed that Ahmad was acting on behalf of his brother, Auwal Ahmad, who remains in Saudi Arabia. The funds were intended for delivery to two individuals—Yusuf Adamu and Abdulhamid Rabiu—who were also arrested upon attempting to claim the money.
