Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos have commenced investigations of two travelers arrested by operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $6,180 and £53,415 cash in their possession
By Emma Ogbuehi
Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos have commenced investigations of two travelers arrested by operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $6,180 and £53,415 cash in their possession. The EFCC made the disclosure on the heels of concern by Nigerians over the motive and agenda of the suspects in the bizarre exercise.
The suspects, Mamud Nasidi and Yahaya Nasidi, were intercepted during a routine check on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
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Upon arrest, the suspects, who were scheduled to travel to Abuja, after arriving the country from Dubai enroute Addis Ababa, were immediately handed over to the Department of State Services, DSS, who subsequently handed them over to the Commission for further investigations and prosecution.
Also found on the suspects were three mobile phones.
The release added that suspects and the exhibits were received by CSE Margaret Lamai on behalf of the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Ahmed Ghali.
Security personnel at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), Lagos, on Saturday arrested the suspects while attempting to board an Aero Contractors flight with $6.1 million in undeclared cash.
According to sources at the airport, the suspects were intercepted during a routine security check as they tried to board the flight with several boxes filled with U.S. dollars.
The money was discovered at the foot of the aircraft after the suspects had passed through initial screening.
Aero Contractors officials reportedly raised an alarm after detecting irregularities in the movement of the boxes and promptly alerted the Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel.
AVSEC officers subsequently handed over the suspects and the seized money to the Department of State Services (DSS) at the airport.
Confirming the incident, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi, said his airline’s security team became suspicious after the individuals refused to check in their boxes.
“They refused to check in the bags, and later said it was money,” Sanusi explained. “When asked if the money had been declared, they said no.
“Our security team then discovered that the individuals were either police officers or some form of security agents, who claimed they were escorting a suspect along with exhibits. That was why they resisted checking in the bags.”
He added that the airline insisted on following proper procedures for transporting suspects or exhibits.
“There are standard protocols for such movements — boarding, deboarding, and in-flight procedures must be strictly observed,” Sanusi said. “Since they failed to comply, they were not allowed to board and eventually left the terminal.”
