Court to Rule on Traveller’s Guilty Plea for Undeclared Foreign Currencies

Case Background

The Federal High Court in Lagos has set May 2 as the judgment date for a case involving Agudosi Okechukwu, who pleaded guilty to failing to declare foreign currencies exceeding legal limits at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in December 2024.

Key Details of the Case

Okechukwu was found with £8,020 and $704 that he failed to declare upon arrival. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned him before Justice Yellim Bogoro, where he admitted guilt to the charges.

Legal Violations

The offense violates Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which requires travelers to declare any currency or negotiable instruments exceeding $10,000 or equivalent to Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).

Penalties for violation include:

• Forfeiture of undeclared funds
• Minimum two-year imprisonment
• Or both penalties

Case Proceedings

During the hearing, EFCC operative Abubakar Magaji presented evidence including:

• Defendant’s statement
• NCS handing-over note
• Arresting officer’s statement
• The seized currencies

Justice Bogoro admitted all exhibits and ordered the defendant remanded in custody pending judgment.

Recent Similar Cases

This case follows several recent currency declaration violations:

Notable Cases

• Hauwa Ibrahim convicted for smuggling $1.15 million and Saudi Riyals (March 2025)
• Okorie Sunday sentenced to six months for failing to declare $578,000 (March 2025)
• Ahmed Shaw (Sierra Leonean) arraigned for failing to declare $90,000 (April 2025)

About Currency Declaration Laws

Nigeria’s currency declaration system aims to:

• Ensure transparency in financial transactions
• Prevent money laundering
• Monitor foreign exchange movements

Despite strict penalties, authorities continue to encounter violations at international airports, particularly in Lagos.

For more details, read the original report on Premium Times.