The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday October 17, 2012, arrested the duo of Idris Hamza and Umar Musa Kibiya at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, for false declaration of fund and illegal possession of One Hundred and Seven Thousand United State Dollars ($107,000.00). They were arrested at the airport during a special task force operation.

Only a fortnight ago, Thursday, 27 September, 2012, Abubakar Sheriff Tijjani, was also intercepted by the EFCC with $7,049.444 (Seven million, Forty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty Four United States Dollars) at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

Hamza who was caught with Twenty Seven Thousand US Dollars ($27,000.00) claimed he was a student and was en-route to Egypt while Kibiya who had Eighty Thousand US Dollars concealed in his bag said he was on a business trip to Dubai.

While Hamza only declared Three Thousand dollars ($3,000.00), Kibiya declared only Forty Thousand US Dollars ($40,000.00). The suspects were however unlucky when they got to the EFCC final check point at the airport and were caught up by the eagle eye of the operatives.

The suspects who have given useful information will be charged to court soon. They will be docked under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap.F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

Tijjani, 25, had at the point of arrest also declared that he had a total sum of $4.5million on him but thorough screening and search showed that he was actually carrying $7,049,444. He confessed that he was a courier for twenty individuals who hired him to convey the money to Dubai.

Tijjani's arraignment at the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi- Lagos, on Friday October 19, 2012, was stalled because the presiding Judge, Justice C.J Aneke said he was bereaved. Tijjani may now be arraigned on Tuesday.

The Commission, in her resolve to arrest the menace of currency trafficking across the country's national exit points, now has a designated checkpoint for her operatives to forestall any failure or/ and false declarations of fund as cash export constitute a criminal offence punishable under the Money Laundering Act, 2011.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media and Publicity

October 21, 2012