The Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arrested two suspects over an attempt
to smuggle more than $238,858 ( two hundred and thirty eight thousand, eight
hundred and fifty eight United States Dollars) out of the country through the
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
One of the
suspects, Abdulrasheed Ibrahim was nabbed on Wednesday November 7 as he
prepared to board a Dubai, the United Arab Emirates bound Ethiopian Airline. A
total of $188,858 (one hundred and eighty eight thousand, eight hundred and
fifty eight United States Dollars) was found on him. He had declared the sum of
forty five thousand USD ($45,000) only for a search on him to reveal additional
$143, 858.
Further search
reveal that he was carrying forty British Pounds and 5753grams of solid gold
worth thirty four million five hundred and eighteen thousand naira (N34,
518,000).
The suspect is
still being interrogated
The second
suspect, Hyginus Ezedimbu was apprehended at the Nnamdi Azikiwe
International Airport on November 3 as he prepared to board an Ethiopian
Airline on his way to China. He was caught with $50,000 but he declared
$49,971. Apart from under declaring the money in his possession, Ezedimbu could
also not explain the ownership of the money, nor was he able to produce the
receipt with which he purportedly purchased the forex from a Bureau De Change.
Musa Adamu operator of Majia Bureau de Change, Abuja, who purportedly sold the
currency to Ezedimbu has been questioned even as the suspect has been release
on administrative bail, pending the conclusion of investigation.
The arrest of
the duo comes on the heels of similar arrests at two of the nation’s other
major gateway, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and the Mallam
Aminu Kano Airport, Kano.
Abubakar Tijani Sheriff, who has since been convicted by a
Federal High Court in Lagos, was arrested on September 27, 2012 at the Murtala
Mohammed International Airport en route Dubai, United Arab Emirates for
attempting to smuggle $7million out of the country.
When he was arrested, he declared that he had only $4.5million on him
but thorough search showed that he was actually carrying $7,049,444 (Seven
million, Forty Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Forty Four United States
Dollars).
Two days after Sheriff’s arrest, the anti-graft agency similarly
apprehended one Nkem Sebastian for attempting to smuggle $286,000 out of the
country. He was arrested as he prepared to board a plane for Dubai, the United
Emirates en route China. When the money was discovered, Sebastian disclosed
that he had only $200,000 on him. But a search revealed that he was actually
carrying $286,000.
On Sunday,
September 30, 2012 operatives of the Commission arrested one Alhaji Tasiu Ilu
Kura, a businessman with $700,000 (about N112m) at the Mallam Aminu Kano
International Airport, Kano. The suspect who hails from Kura Local Government
in Kano State, was arrested en route Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
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