The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), located at Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, has arraigned a Sierra Leonean national, Alhaji Ahmed Shaw, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly failing to declare the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States Dollars) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Shaw was arrested on March 3, 2025, by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for failing to declare the said amount to the appropriate authorities. He was subsequently handed over to the EFCC on March 5, 2025, for further investigation.
Following the conclusion of preliminary investigations, the defendant was arraigned on Thursday, April 3, 2025, on a one-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering.
The charge reads:
“That you, Alhaji Ahmed Shaw, on the 3rd day of March, 2025, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to declare the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following the plea, the prosecuting counsel, C.C. Okezie, requested a date for trial and urged the court to remand the defendant at a correctional facility.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter to April 15, 2025, for commencement of trial and ordered the remand of the defendant at a Correctional Centre.
