Nigerian Man Jailed for Three Months Over Failure to Declare $30,000 at Lagos Airport

A Nigerian man, Okunfulure Olusola Steve, was sentenced to three months in prison for failing to declare $30,000 while attempting to board a flight to Atlanta, United States, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, handed down the sentence on April 2, 2025, after Steve pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of money laundering brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Steve was arrested on March 28, 2025, during routine checks by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the airport. Initially, he claimed he was not carrying any foreign currency, but a subsequent search revealed the $30,000 in his possession. The NCS then transferred him to the EFCC for further investigation.

The charge against him stated that on March 28, 2025, he failed to declare $20,000 to the Customs Service as required by law. This offence violated the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

At the court hearing, EFCC operative Felicia Paul testified, confirming that Steve had been arrested with the undeclared currency. His statement, along with the Customs handover note and other supporting evidence, were submitted as part of the case.

In his defense, Steve’s lawyer, Joel Ogundere, asked the court for leniency, pointing out that his client was a first-time offender and unaware of the declaration requirement. Ogundere also emphasized that the funds were legitimate, as confirmed by Steve’s bank records, and requested a fine instead of a prison sentence.

However, Justice Deinde I. Dipeolu ruled that Steve be jailed for three months, starting from the date of his arrest. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared $20,000 to the Federal Government of Nigeria.