The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced an investigation into Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, who was arrested at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with $578,000 in undeclared cash.
Sunday was arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) upon his arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, 19 March 2025. He initially declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk. However, an additional $299,000 was later discovered hidden in various packages, bringing the total to $578,000. Further inspection also uncovered 100 euros and a counterfeit $250.
The Area Comptroller of the NCS handed over the suspect and the recovered funds to the EFCC on Friday, 21 March 2025, citing a violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, which requires proper declaration of any currency exceeding $10,000.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Area Comptroller emphasized the importance of compliance with currency declaration laws.
Receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director of the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmed Ghali, commended the NCS for its cooperation. He stressed the need for the public to comply with financial disclosure regulations, warning that false declarations and non-compliance would not be tolerated.
“We will not allow anyone to sabotage the economy or expose the country to money laundering risks. This kind of act makes Nigeria vulnerable to financial crimes,” Ghali stated.
