Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court siting in Kano has sentenced a fraudster, Salisu Ahmad, for concealing and failing to declare the sum of $420,900, £5,825, CFA3,946,500 and Cameroonian CFA 224,000 from officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Ahmad was convicted after pleading guilty to a charge of non-declaration of funds contrary to Sections 3(3) and 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, brought against him by the Commission.

The charge reads: “That you , Salisu Ahmad, on or about the 7th day of July, 2025, at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court while transporting $420,900; £5,825; CFA 3,946,500 and CFA 224,000 collectively valued at N653 million into Nigeria from Saudi Arabia aboard Ethiopian Air (ET940) failed to make a declaration of the same to the Nigerian Customs and thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 3(3) and 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.”

In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Mustapha Maiwada, prayed the court to convict him accordingly. Following diligent investigation and prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Justice Shuaibu found the defendant guilty and convicted him based on his plea.

By the border of the court, the convict forfeited the entire undeclared money to the Federal Government. Ahmad was intercepted by Customs operatives during a routine check on Monday, July 7, 2025 at MAKIA.

Upon physical inspection, it was revealed that the cash was meticulously concealed in a polythene bag covered by clothes and other fabrics in a luggage.

Upon his arrest, the suspect reportedly disclosed that he was transporting the funds on behalf of his brother, Auwal Ahmad, who is still in Saudi Arabia to be delivered to two individuals, Yusuf Adamu and Abdulhamid Rabiu, who were also arrested upon their arrival to claim the monies.