The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into a woman, Phil-Olumba Sheila, who was arrested for failing to declare large sums of foreign currency at the Lagos Airport.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed in a statement on Thursday that Sheila was apprehended by the Nigeria Customs Service with $14,567, £1,030, and 40 Canadian dollars in her possession. The anti-graft agency is now probing the matter further in line with financial regulations.
He said that the suspect, who was scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom, had earlier claimed she had only 4,000 dollars on her.
According to him, Sheila was intercepted by operatives of the NCS during a routine check on Tuesday.
Oyewale said that in a related development, the EFCC had also begun investigation of a parcel containing 101 Trillion Zimbabwean Dollars and 41.6 million Vietnamese Dong, which was intercepted by officials of the Nigerian Postal Service ( NIPOST) and operatives of the NCS.
He said that during the handing over of the suspect and the various foreign currencies, the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the Airport , E.J. Harrison commended the vigilance and dedication of the NCS and the NIPOST’s officials.
The Acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, received the suspect and the money contained in the intercepted parcel.
He assured that the EFCC would expedite action on investigation and prosecution of the suspect.
Ghali, represented by M.A. Timta, an operative of the Lagos Zonal Directorate, commended the NCS for its sustained efforts in tackling illegal financial activities in the country.
