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By Sola Ojo, Abuja and Faheem Lawal
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation into the alleged movement of undeclared foreign currencies at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), while also arraigning a man and his company over an alleged N7.8 million fraud in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In Kano, the EFCC said its Zonal Directorate commenced investigation into Haruna Yusuf following his handover to the commission by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside $73,000, £15,957 and 827,800 Saudi Riyals intercepted at the airport.
According to the Head of Media and Publicity EFCC Dele Oyewale, the currencies were intercepted in two separate operations during routine screening of arriving passengers on August 8 and 12, 2026.
According to the Acting Customs Area Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command, Deputy Comptroller U.U. Adamu, the first interception occurred on August 8 at about 2:20pm when Customs officers discovered an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage containing 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300 concealed inside footwear.
On August 12, Customs officers flagged a luggage belonging to Yusuf, who arrived at MAKIA aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941.
Adamu said secondary screening using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology led to the discovery of $20,000 and £15,957 concealed inside sportswear shoes.
The Customs official subsequently handed Yusuf and the recovered currencies to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
He said the handover was carried out in accordance with Section 4(f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which empowers the service to collaborate with other border regulatory agencies.
Receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, the Acting Zonal Director of the Kano Directorate, ACE1 Friday S. Ebelo, commended Customs officers for their professionalism and cooperation.
Ebelo said the failure to declare large sums of currency and their equivalent constitutes a violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
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He, however, clarified that declaring currency attracts no penalty, stressing that the source of undeclared funds may raise legal concerns.
“You must declare the currency you are carrying. If you declare it, nobody will seize your currency,” he said.
Meanwhile, the EFCC Ibadan Zonal Directorate has arraigned Adeoye Gabriel Adewale and his company, De Lukas Global Concept Limited, before Justice Olusola Adetujoye of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan over an alleged N7.819 million fraud.
The defendant was arraigned on Thursday, August 13, 2026, on a one-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion.
The EFCC alleged that Adewale, posing as a car dealer, obtained N7.819 million from Abdulrasaq Awotedo for the purchase of two cars but allegedly converted the money to his personal use.
The commission further alleged that the defendant perpetrated the fraud through a fake car mart and received the money through his company’s First Bank account before converting it for personal use.
The charge alleged that the offence was committed between October 6, 2021 and March 23, 2022, contrary to Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Adewale pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Sanusi Galandachi, urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional centre and grant a date for trial.
However, defence counsel, A. Towolawi, informed the court that a bail application had been filed, asking the court to admit his client to bail pending the determination of the case.
Justice Adetujoye adjourned the matter for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
