A Federal High Court in Kano has convicted Hauwa Abdullahi Ibrahim for illegally smuggling foreign currency into Nigeria, sentencing her after she pleaded guilty to money laundering charges.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the conviction following Ibrahim’s arrest at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, where officers of the Nigeria Customs Service found her in possession of an undeclared sum of $1,154,900 and SDR135,900 Saudi Riyals.
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According to the EFCC, Ibrahim attempted to bring the funds into Nigeria from Saudi Arabia without declaring them, as required by law. Customs officials intercepted her and later handed her over to the EFCC for further investigation and prosecution.
She was subsequently arraigned before Justice S. M. Shuaibu on a two-count charge of money laundering under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. When the charges were read, she pleaded guilty.
During the proceedings, the prosecution, represented by counsel Musa Isah, presented evidence, including the seized funds, and urged the court to convict her.
In her defense, Ibrahim claimed she was unaware of the actual contents of the box she carried from Saudi Arabia. She alleged that a man named Nafiu had asked her to bring the package, assuring her it contained only dates and a small sum of money. Upon arrival in Kano State, she handed the box to a woman assigned to receive it. However, authorities later recalled her, leading to her arrest.
Despite her plea for leniency, Justice Shuaibu convicted her as charged and ordered the forfeiture of the smuggled funds to the federal government, citing provisions of the Money Laundering Act.
