A Federal High Court in Kano has ordered the forfeiture of ₦653 million in undeclared foreign currencies to the Federal Government, following the conviction of Salisu Ahmad for failing to declare the funds upon entering Nigeria. Justice S.M. Shuaibu delivered the judgment after Ahmad pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of non-declaration brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The undeclared funds, which included $420,900, £5,825, CFA3,946,500, and Cameroonian CFA224,000, were concealed in Ahmad’s luggage when he arrived at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on July 7, 2025, aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Saudi Arabia. The money was intercepted during a routine Customs check.
Upon interrogation, Ahmad claimed he was acting on behalf of his brother, Auwal Ahmad, and was instructed to deliver the money to two other individuals, Yusuf Adamu and Abdulhamid Rabiu, who were also arrested. The EFCC filed charges against Ahmad for violating sections of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, which mandates full disclosure of monetary instruments exceeding permitted limits upon entry into the country.
Following his guilty plea, Justice Shuaibu ruled that the entire sum be forfeited to the Federal Government.
