Kano : Court jails woman for smuggling over $1.15m, 136,000 Saudi Riyals into Nigeria

A Federal High Court in Kano has sentenced Hauwa Ibrahim to prison for attempting to smuggle $1,154,900 and 135,900 Saudi Riyals into Nigeria without declaring the funds to authorities.

The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured her conviction after she pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of money laundering before Justice S. M. Shuaibu.

According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Ibrahim was arrested at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport by Nigeria Customs Service officers for failing to declare the cash as required by law. She was handed over to the EFCC for investigation and prosecution.

Following her arrest, Ibrahim was charged with violating Section 3(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. During her arraignment, she admitted guilt to both counts.

“In view of her plea, counsel for the prosecution, Musa Isah, reviewed the facts of the case and tendered exhibits including the undeclared amount and subsequently prayed the court to convict her accordingly,” Oyewale said.

The court allowed Ibrahim to explain her side of the story before sentencing. “The convict disclosed that she was approached by one Nafiu in Saudi Arabia who allegedly solicited her assistance to carry along one box from Saudi to Nigeria and when she enquired about the content of the box, he allegedly told her that it was date and small amount of cash,” Oyewale explained.

Ibrahim claimed she called a contact given to her by Nafiu upon arrival in Kano and handed over the box. Later, airport authorities asked her to return with her passport to clear the box, leading to her arrest when the true contents were discovered.

“She pleaded with the court to spare her as she had no knowledge of the contents of the box and that she was deceived by the sender who told her that the box only contained dates and small amount of money,” Oyewale added.

Justice Shuaibu convicted Ibrahim and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared funds to the Federal Government under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.