Kano Court Sentences Woman for Smuggling Undeclared Foreign Currency

A Federal High Court in Kano has sentenced Hauwa Abdullahi Ibrahim to prison for attempting to smuggle $1,154,900 and 135,900 Saudi Riyals into Nigeria from Saudi Arabia without properly declaring the funds. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured her conviction after she pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of money laundering.

The case was heard by Justice S. M. Shuaibu, who ruled against Ibrahim following her admission of guilt. She was initially arrested by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport for failing to declare the funds as required by law. After her arrest, the customs officers handed her over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.

During the court proceedings, the EFCC, represented by prosecutor Musa Isah, presented evidence to support the charges against Ibrahim. Among the key pieces of evidence was the undeclared money itself. The prosecution urged the court to convict her based on the clear violation of money laundering regulations.

In her defense, Ibrahim pleaded for leniency, stating that she had been deceived by an acquaintance in Saudi Arabia named Nafiu. She claimed that Nafiu had given her a box containing dates and a small amount of cash, only for her to later discover the true contents after her arrest. However, her explanation did not sway the court’s decision.

Following the proceedings, Justice Shuaibu found her guilty and sentenced her accordingly. Additionally, the court ruled that the seized funds should be forfeited to the Federal Government, in compliance with Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering Act, 2022. The ruling reinforces Nigeria’s strict stance on financial crimes and undeclared currency smuggling.