In a major breakthrough against illicit financial flows, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two individuals—Sale Bala and Abdullahi Tahir Hamisu—caught attempting to smuggle large sums of foreign currencies through Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice S.M. Shuaibu, handed down the guilty verdict after both men admitted to laundering a mind-boggling mix of undeclared cash totaling \$86,500, 305,150 Saudi Riyals, 560,000 CFA francs, and 200 Euros.
The EFCC brought the trio—Bala, Hamisu, and an accomplice still at large, Ibrahim Abubakar Saeed—before the court on a three-count charge under Section 3(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The law mandates the declaration of all monetary instruments above stipulated thresholds when crossing borders.
One of the counts read:
Quote
“That you, Sale Bala, Abdullahi Tahir Hamisu and Ibrahim Abubakar Saeed (now at large), on or about April 27, 2025, at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, failed to declare the sum of \$86,500 to the Nigerian Customs Service...”
The high-stakes scheme began to unravel when Customs officials flagged Bala during routine clearance. What was claimed to be a shipment of “bedsheets” turned out to be a cleverly packed bundle of foreign currency.
Interrogation revealed that Bala was acting on instructions from Hamisu, who was promptly arrested upon arriving to claim the illicit cargo.
The EFCC, taking over the investigation, prosecuted the suspects swiftly. With both defendants pleading guilty, Justice Shuaibu ruled for their conviction and ordered that the entire sum be forfeited to the Federal Government.
This case marks another victory in Nigeria’s tightening crackdown on cross-border financial crimes, as authorities continue to clamp down on undeclared capital flight and international money laundering.
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