The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kano Directorate has secured the conviction and sentencing of Sale Bala and Abdullahi Tahir Hamisu for failing to declare substantial sums of foreign currency.
According to the EFCC, Justice S.M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court in Kano convicted the pair for violating Section 3(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
The undeclared funds amounted to $86,500, 305,150 Saudi Riyals, 560,000 CFA Francs, and 200 Euros.
The EFCC stated that the men pleaded guilty to a three-count charge related to money laundering.
One of the charges specified that on or about April 27, 2025, at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Sale Bala, Abdullahi Tahir Hamisu, and Ibrahim Abubakar Saeed (at large) “failed to make declaration of the sum of $86,500 to the Nigerian Customs Service.”
Following their guilty pleas, Musa Isah, the prosecution counsel, urged the court to convict them.
Justice Shuaibu found the defendants guilty on all counts and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared funds to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The EFCC detailed that Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) operatives arrested Sale Bala on April 27, 2025, while attempting to clear “bedsheets”, which concealed the foreign currencies.
Bala reportedly told investigators that he was assigned to clear the baggage and deliver it to Abdullahi Tahir Hamisu, who was also apprehended upon arrival to collect the items.
Both men were then handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
Leave a Reply