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From Sola Ojo, Abuja
The Supreme Court has affirmed the forfeiture of $40,000 undeclared cash seized from Aminu Sule Lamido, son of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, bringing to an end a 13-year legal battle over the case.
The ruling effectively closes the case and reinforces judicial backing for the enforcement of laws on the declaration of foreign currency by travelers, setting a precedent in support of the EFCC’s anti-money laundering efforts at Nigerian airports.
In a judgment delivered yesterday, January 16, 2026, the apex court upheld the earlier decisions of the Federal High Court, Kano, and the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, which convicted Aminu Lamido and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared funds to the Federal Government.
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Aminu Lamido was arrested on December 11, 2012, at the Aminu Kano International Airport by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) en route to Cairo, Egypt.
He was found to be carrying $50,000 in cash but declared only $10,000 to officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, contrary to foreign exchange regulations. He was arraigned on February 4, 2013, before Justice Fatun O. Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano, on a one-count charge bordering on money laundering and false declaration of foreign currency.
Although he pleaded not guilty, the court found him guilty and, on July 12, 2013, ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared $40,000 to the Federal Government. Lamido challenged the conviction at the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, but in a judgment delivered in January 2016, the appellate court upheld the ruling of the trial court, affirming both the conviction and the forfeiture Still dissatisfied, he approached the Supreme Court in an appeal marked SC/201/2016.
In its final judgment yesterday, January 16, 2026, the apex court resolved all issues raised in the appeal in favour of the EFCC, affirming the decisions of the two lower courts.
