Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Kano has sentenced a man, Salisu Ahmad, to prison for failing to declare foreign currency amounting to over ₦653 million upon his arrival in Nigeria from Saudi Arabia.
Ahmad was convicted on a one-count charge of non-declaration of funds, in violation of Sections 3(3) and 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The case was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following his arrest by Nigeria Customs Service officers during a routine check at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on July 7, 2025.
According to the EFCC, Ahmad arrived aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET940 and was found with large sums of undeclared foreign currency concealed in polythene bags wrapped in cloth inside his luggage. The funds included $420,900, £5,825, CFA3,946,500 (West African CFA), and Cameroonian CFA224,000—all amounting to a total value of ₦653 million.
Court charges
The court charge read: “That you, Salisu Ahmad, on or about the 7th day of July, 2025… while transporting this foreign sum, failed to make a declaration of the same to the Nigerian Customs.”
Justice Shuaibu found Ahmad guilty and ordered the total amount forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
During interrogation, Ahmad claimed he was acting on behalf of his brother, Auwal Ahmad, who resides in Saudi Arabia. He alleged he was instructed to deliver the money to two individuals in Nigeria—Yusuf Adamu and Abdulhamid Rabiu—who have since been arrested while attempting to collect the funds.
The EFCC confirmed that investigations are ongoing into other persons possibly connected to the illegal money transfer.
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