Money Laundering: Court Convicts Woman Who Came to Nigeria with Over a Billion Naira

• The EFCC Kano Zonal Directorate secured the conviction of Hauwa Abdullahi Ibrahim for smuggling an undeclared sum of $1,154,900 and SDR135,900 Saudi Riyals into Nigeria
• Ibrahim was apprehended at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport and pleaded guilty to money laundering charges
• The undeclared money was ordered to be forfeited to the federal government after the court found her guilty as charged

Kano, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Kano Zonal Directorate secured the conviction of Hauwa Abdullahi Ibrahim for smuggling an undeclared sum of $1,154,900 and SDR135,900 Saudi Riyals from Saudi Arabia into Nigeria.

Ibrahim was jailed after pleading guilty to a two-count charge of money laundering before Justice S. M Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.

According to EFCC, the conviction followed her arrest by Nigeria Customs Service officers at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

EFCC shares details of arrest and investigation

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Ibrahim was apprehended for attempting to smuggle the undeclared funds into Nigeria, failing to declare them as required by law. Following her arrest, the Nigeria Customs Service handed her over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.

The EFCC charged Ibrahim with two counts of money laundering under Section 3(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Upon her arraignment, she pleaded guilty to both charges.

Court proceedings and forfeiture order

During the court proceedings, the prosecution's counsel, Musa Isah, reviewed the facts of the case and presented exhibits, including the undeclared amount.

Justice Shuaibu allowed Ibrahim to narrate her story, during which she claimed to have been deceived by an individual named Nafiu in Saudi Arabia.

Despite her plea for mercy, Justice Shuaibu convicted her and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared money to the federal government in line with Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act of 2022.

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See the X post below:

What's EFCC about?

The EFCC is a Nigerian law enforcement and anti-graft agency established in 2003.

The EFCC is responsible for investigating and prosecuting economic and financial crimes, including money laundering, advance fee fraud (419 fraud), and other forms of corruption. The agency operates under the EFCC Establishment Act of 2004 and has its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.

The EFCC's mission is to eradicate economic and financial crimes through prevention, enforcement, and coordination, with core values of integrity, professionalism, courage, and collaboration.

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Proofreading by James Ojo, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng