The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into Okorie Sunday, who was arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, for false currency declaration.
Sunday was apprehended upon his arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa, on March 19, 2025. While he initially declared $279,000 at the Currency Declaration Desk, a subsequent search uncovered an additional $299,000 hidden in various packages, bringing the total to $578,000. Authorities also found €100 and a counterfeit $250 among his belongings.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed that the commission’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 officially took over the case on March 21, 2025, following the handover by the NCS Area Comptroller at the airport.
During the handover, an NCS official, Harrison, noted that Sunday’s actions violated the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011, which mandates proper declaration of any currency exceeding $10,000 by travellers entering or leaving the country.
Receiving the suspect, Acting Zonal Director of EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmed Ghali, commended the NCS for its cooperation. He emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in combating financial crimes and urged the public to adhere to currency declaration laws.
“It is mandatory for anyone travelling into or out of the country to declare cash exceeding $10,000, as required by our money laundering laws. We will not tolerate false declarations or any actions that undermine Nigeria’s financial integrity,” Ghali stated.
He further warned that financial crimes, such as money laundering, pose significant risks to the nation’s economy and global reputation. The EFCC, he added, will continue working with relevant agencies to strengthen financial security and prevent economic sabotage.
