The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigation into a suspect, Haruna Yusuf, and multiple undeclared foreign currencies comprising $73,000 (Seventy-Three Thousand United States Dollars), £15,957 (Fifteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty-Seven Pounds Sterling), and 827,800 Saudi Riyals, intercepted by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).
The investigation commenced following the handover of the suspect and the undeclared currencies by the Acting Customs Area Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command, Deputy Comptroller U. U. Adamu, at the Customs Area Command in Kano.
The intercepted currencies, which exceeded the legally permitted threshold, were discovered during routine primary and secondary screening of arriving passengers between August 8 and August 12, 2026.
The Acting Zonal Director of the EFCC, Kano Directorate, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE1), Friday S. Ebelo, received the suspect and the recovered funds on behalf of the Commission.
According to Adamu, the Customs made two separate interceptions.
On August 8, 2026, “at approximately 14:20 hours, officers conducting passenger screening at the baggage area of MAKIA intercepted an unaccompanied Saudi Air luggage containing 827,800 Saudi Riyals and $53,300. The currencies were found concealed inside a footwear,” Adamu stated.
Similarly, on August 12, 2026, “at approximately 13:50 hours, officers of the Nigeria Customs Service also flagged a luggage belonging to one Mr. Haruna Yusuf, who arrived at MAKIA aboard Ethiopian Airlines flight ET941. During secondary screening using Non-Intrusive Inspection Technology, $20,000 USD and £15,957 were found concealed inside sports shoes,” he said.
Adamu thereafter formally handed over the suspect, Mr. Haruna Yusuf, alongside all the recovered exhibits, to Ebelo for further investigation and prosecution.
He noted that the handover was in accordance with Section 4(f) of the NCS Act 2023, which empowers the Service to collaborate with other border regulatory agencies.
Adamu further explained that “these interceptions demonstrate the readiness and vigilance of our officers in detecting the cross-border movement of undeclared foreign currencies above the allowed threshold. The Command will continue to deploy technology, professional expertise, and intelligence-driven measures, including inter-agency collaboration, to strengthen border controls and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s financial system.”
Receiving the suspect and exhibits on behalf of the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, Ebelo expressed profound gratitude to the Customs Service for its professionalism and cooperation with EFCC officers recently deployed to the airport.
“We must sustain this vigilance at all our entry points to counter the illegal movement of currency. The failure to declare large sums of currency and its equivalent is a violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” he said.
He urged the public to comply with the law, emphasising that declaring currency attracts no penalty, while the source of undeclared funds may raise legal concerns.
“Once more, we call on the general public: as much as we are Nigerians and we encourage trade in and out of the country, people must adhere to the laws of the land. You must declare the currency you are carrying. If you declare it, nobody will seize your currency,” he said.
Ebelo reaffirmed the EFCC’s commitment to conducting thorough investigations and pursuing prosecution in accordance with the law, stating that the Commission would continue to diligently follow due process.
Both Ebelo and Adamu applauded the longstanding synergy between the EFCC and the NCS, which they said has been critical to combating financial crimes and the illegal movement of cash across Nigeria’s borders.
