The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Okotie-Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 2, 2025, re-arraigned one Alhaji Ahmed Shaw before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, on a charge of money laundering.
Shaw was apprehended on March 3, 2025, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for failing to declare the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States Dollars). He was subsequently handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
He was initially arraigned on April 3, 2025, on a one-count charge bordering on money laundering. The charge reads: “That you, Alhaji Ahmed Shaw, on the 3rd day of March, 2025, in 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 Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.”
At his initial arraignment, the defendant pleaded “not guilty.” However, at the hearing on April 15, 2025, the prosecution presented its first witness, Mr. Danladi Ibrahim, an NDLEA operative. At the resumed hearing on May 2, 2025, defence counsel, Mr. E.I. Ogundeji, informed the court of the defendant’s intention to change his plea.
Consequently, Shaw was re-arraigned on the same charge and pleaded “guilty.” Following this, prosecution counsel, Mr. Z.B. Atiku, called Mr. Aminu Lawal, an EFCC operative, to review the facts of the case.
Led in evidence by the prosecution, Lawal testified that the defendant was apprehended with $90,000, which he failed to declare. He stated: “His statement was recorded under caution, and he admitted that he did not declare the $90,000.” Lawal further identified and tendered into evidence the defendant’s written statement, the NDLEA handover note, the arresting officer’s statement, and the seized sum of $90,000.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter to May 6, 2025, for the delivery of judgment.
