Alleged Money Laundering: EFCC Arraigns Sierra Leonean for Non-declaration of $90,000 at Lagos Airport

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, has arraigned a Sierra Leonean national, Alhaji Ahmed Shaw, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos. The arraignment followed Shaw’s alleged failure to declare the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States Dollars) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on March 3, 2025.

According to the EFCC, the defendant was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on suspicion of breaching money laundering laws. The arrest reportedly took place during a routine screening of passengers and their luggage at the airport. Upon discovery of the undeclared funds, the NDLEA handed Shaw over to the EFCC on March 5, 2025, for further investigation into the source and intended use of the money.

Charge and Court Proceedings

Shaw was arraigned on April 3, 2025, on a one-count charge of non-declaration of funds, an offence that contravenes Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022. The EFCC stated that the act of failing to declare such a significant sum to the Nigerian Customs Service at a point of entry into the country constitutes a serious infraction under Nigerian law.

The charge read: “That you, ALHAJI AHMED SHAW, on the 3rd day of March, 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States of America Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.”

Shaw pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court. Following the plea, EFCC counsel, C.C. Okezie, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in custody pending trial.

Court Orders Remand, Adjourns for Trial

Justice Dipeolu granted the prosecution’s request, ordering that the defendant be remanded at a Correctional Centre. The judge then adjourned the case to April 15, 2025, for the commencement of trial.

The decision to remand the defendant underscores the seriousness with which Nigerian courts treat financial crimes, especially those involving foreign nationals. The court is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the non-declaration and determine whether it amounts to an intentional effort to launder money or a case of oversight.

Legal analysts note that Section 3 of the Money Laundering Act places a legal obligation on all individuals entering or leaving Nigeria to truthfully declare any funds above the threshold set by law. Failure to do so, they say, is considered not just a regulatory breach but a potential indicator of criminal financial activity.

Background and Investigation by EFCC

Alhaji Ahmed Shaw’s arrest highlights the ongoing collaboration between Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies, particularly the NDLEA and EFCC, in tackling illicit financial flows. Sources within the EFCC stated that the agency was conducting a thorough investigation into Shaw’s travel history, financial activities, and any potential links to cross-border money laundering networks.

The NDLEA, which initially apprehended Shaw, has increased vigilance at Nigeria’s major airports amid a rise in financial crimes involving undeclared cash. Analysts say that the seamless transfer of the case from the NDLEA to the EFCC reflects improved inter-agency coordination.

While it remains unclear what Shaw intended to do with the undeclared $90,000, EFCC officials believe the matter warrants close legal scrutiny, especially in light of Nigeria’s commitment to anti-money laundering protocols under international conventions.

Implications and Next Steps

As the trial date approaches, both the prosecution and defence are expected to present arguments on whether Shaw’s actions constituted a deliberate attempt to evade financial reporting regulations. If convicted, Shaw could face penalties ranging from forfeiture of the funds to imprisonment under Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.

This case adds to the growing list of high-profile prosecutions being pursued by the EFCC in its effort to clamp down on illicit financial transactions, especially at the nation’s borders. The outcome of the trial may set an important precedent for future cases involving non-declaration of funds by foreign nationals.

The EFCC has reiterated its commitment to combating financial crimes and warned both Nigerian citizens and foreigners alike that failure to adhere to the nation’s anti-money laundering laws will be met with the full weight of the law.