From Sola Ojo, Abuja
Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have begun an investigation into the sum of CFA 7 million intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Idiroko border in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
According to the Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the Customs’ Area Comptroller for the Command, Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, handed over the CFA 7 million, equivalent to about N17 million, to the EFCC for further investigation.
Receiving the exhibit, Head of Investigations, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Moses Oguzi, commended the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for its vigilance and commitment towards safeguarding the nation’s borders.
Oguzi, who spoke on behalf of the Acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Ahmad Ghali, assured that the Commission would conduct a thorough forensic investigation of the cash found by officers of the NCS.
“This is a reminder that no effort will be spared in holding accountable those who seek to undermine the integrity of our financial systems,” he said.
Earlier, the Customs officer, Shuaibu, said the foreign currency, stashed in 5,000 denomination notes, was being smuggled from Nigeria en route to the Idiroko border to the neighbouring Republic of Benin.
“On March 20, 2025, our officers on duty at outward Baggage Hall spotted a bag suspected to be carrying an unlawful content. On thorough examination, it was discovered to contain new mint foreign currency notes.
“According to him, the bag containing the cash was uncovered by operatives of the NCS along the Baggage Road in Idiroko where it was left at a corner by a yet-to-be-identified courier,” he was quoted.