Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested two suspects with counterfeit $899,800 in Kano State.
According to a statement issued by the anti-graft agency on Saturday, the suspects, Abubakar Hussaini (42) and Sahabi Adamu (53), were initially intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, along Maiduguri Road, Wudil, Kano State.
It added that they were traveling in a commercial Golf 3 Station Wagon car en route to Kila Village in Gwaram Local Government Area , LGA, of Jigawa State.
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Investigations revealed that the suspects were on their way to meet one Muhammad Walo, who was supposed to introduce them to Mallam Mashiru, a self-proclaimed spiritualist.
According to the suspects, Mallam Mashiru had promised to “transform” the counterfeit dollars into real currency through ritual prayers.
The EFCC confirmed that the suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded.
This is coming barely two months after the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos convicted and sentenced a businessman, Okorie Sunday for failing to declare the sum of $299,000 and €100.
Sunday was arrested on March 19, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Justice Deinde Dipeolu sentenced the convict to six months imprisonment for his failure to declare the same and also ordered the forfeiture of the monies to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The judge said, “I have listened to the defence and prosecution counsel. I have considered the mitigating factors that the convict is a first time offender, who has no criminal record. He pleaded guilty on the following day after arraignment. I have also listened to the prosecution who informed the court that they are not aware of any previous conviction.”
“Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering Act, 2022 under which the defendant now-convict was charged provides that any person who falsely declares or fails to make declaration to the Nigeria Customs Service is liable on conviction to forfeit the undeclared funds or negotiable instrument or to imprisonment for a term of at least two years or both. Therefore, the convict shall forfeit the sum of $299,000 and €100 Euros to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“Having considered the mitigating factors, the convict is sentenced to six months imprisonment to commence from the date of his arrest on March 19, 2025. The defendant/convict shall be remanded at the correctional centre.”
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