Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos
Command of Nigeria Customs Service yesterday said it arrested a passenger with
over three hundred and twenty thousand dollars ($320,000) at the Murtala
Muhammed international airport, Lagos while attempting to board a Doha bound
Qatar Airways’ flight.
The passenger identified as Onwuekwe Anthony Chidi , was checking in on the airline when he declared the amount of money which he could not explain was found on him.
Custom sources at the airport said Chidi could not give adequate source of the money as well as the proof that he got such huge amount of money from a legitimate business.
The passenger and the money had been handed over to officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for further investigations.
According to a statement issued by the customs and signed by the customs area controller , Mr Eporwei Charles, said :" About 13 00 hours On November 19, 2012, a passenger by name Onwuekwe Anthony Chidi , with passport number A04086671 was checking in on Qatar Airways , he declared the sum of three hundred thousand and twenty thousand dollars on both forms CDFIA and CDFIB but could not explain the source of the currency nor show adequate prove of his business to the customs officer at the currency desk at the " E" wing departure hall of Murtala Muhammed international Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
The passenger identified as Onwuekwe Anthony Chidi , was checking in on the airline when he declared the amount of money which he could not explain was found on him.
Custom sources at the airport said Chidi could not give adequate source of the money as well as the proof that he got such huge amount of money from a legitimate business.
The passenger and the money had been handed over to officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for further investigations.
According to a statement issued by the customs and signed by the customs area controller , Mr Eporwei Charles, said :" About 13 00 hours On November 19, 2012, a passenger by name Onwuekwe Anthony Chidi , with passport number A04086671 was checking in on Qatar Airways , he declared the sum of three hundred thousand and twenty thousand dollars on both forms CDFIA and CDFIB but could not explain the source of the currency nor show adequate prove of his business to the customs officer at the currency desk at the " E" wing departure hall of Murtala Muhammed international Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Meanwhile the money and suspect have been handed over to the EFCC for further investigations and necessary action."
Two weeks ago, the Muhammed Airport Command , of Nigeria Customs Service said that it arrested one passenger with one hundred and thirty seven thousand , four hundred and thirty five( 137,435), United States of America dollars at the international wing of the Lagos airport.
The passenger identified as Mr Chukwuonu Nnaemeka John was travelling to China with textbooks published in Nigeria with the purpose of re- importing them back to Nigeria which is a copyright offence.
Addressing reporters at the Customs Command Office at the cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, the Customs Area Controller , Eporwei Charles Edike explained that the passenger only declared seventy thousand dollars. But, when officials carried out search on the textbooks, they discovered that sixty seven thousand and four hundred and thirty seven dollars (67,437),was found that was not declared.
He explained that the area command has put in place measures to hand over the passenger to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for further investigation.
He said it has become imperative for Customs at the airport to comply with government regulations as it affects foreign exchange in line with the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C 45 LFN 2004 as amended.
The Customs boss explained that since September 24, 2012 when the office received a letter from the EFCC, it has thereafter put in place a collaborative working arrangement with the command currency declaration officers at the international airport.
He explained that the collaborative efforts have been paying off with many passengers been restrained from travelling and have been handed over to the EFCC.
He said : " On September 27, 2012, passengers, Messrs Hassan Ganiyat Oloruntoyin (Mrs) and Oteh Prince Eminike were refused boarding at the currency declaration desk when they were unable to produce evidence of purchase of two hundred and seventy thousand dollars(270,00) and one million forty thousand dollars (1,040,000), respectively.
They were subsequently handed over to the EFCC.
Also, on September,2012, one Sheriff Abubakar Tijani was found with four million five hundred thousand dollars(4.5 million). He was also handed over to the EFCC, Lagos Liaison office, who are working in tandem with the currency seat officer at the Lagos international Airport for further necessary action, "
He further said : " 'Mr Igweadiani John Chinedu was arrested on October 3, 2012 with two hundred and eighty three thousand dollars(283,000), due to his failure to satisfactorily explain the source of the money, ownership and purpose of fund.
On October 20, 2012 at the " D" wing section of the Nigeria Customs Service Currency Screening Desk, our officer of the currency seat accosted a Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria official, Mr Adetula A. A with a bag containing $1.4 million which was not declared.
On October 26,2012, one Mr Osemwegie Billy was found with five hundred and ninety nine thousand, two hundred dollars.
Only on November 7, 2012, Mr Chukwuonu Nnaemeka John was arrested with one hundred and thirty seven thousand, four hundred and thirty five dollars ($137,435). He declared the sum of seventy thousand dollars ($70,000).
Investigations revealed that he was travelling to China with textbooks published in Nigeria with the purpose of reprinting in China and re importing them back into Nigeria which is a copyright offence.
In the search of these textbooks it was discovered sixty seven thousand four hundred and thirty seven ($67,437) was not declared.
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