Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna Zonal Operation, has intercepted an undeclared sum of N49 million in new notes at the Kaduna International Airport.
The Kaduna zonal head of EFCC, Ibrahim Bappa, while addressing journalists on Tuesday in Kaduna, said the money was stashed in five large 150-kilogramme coloured sacks but discovered following an intelligence report.
He said a report which was made at about 8:00 p.m. on Monday to the zone stated that during a routine baggage screening of supposed check-in baggage, the five bags were sighted unattended to and without tags, “containing fresh bulk items suspected to be money from the aroma perceived from the sack.
“The owner of the money later showed up but couldn’t state the exact money in the sack or present any document authenticating the genesis of the money.
“However, his inability to give any concrete explanation made him become uncomfortable and he disappeared into thin air before the arrival of EFCC operatives according to our sources,” the zonal head said.
Mr. Bappa said the operatives later found out that the suspect had fled the airport vicinity, leaving the sack behind and upon careful scrutiny of the contents of the sack, it was discovered that they contained fresh crispy naira notes of N200 denomination in 200 bundles totalling N40 million and N50 denomination in 180 bundles totalling N9 million – all sealed, purportedly emanating from the Nigeria Security and Minting (NSPM) PLC, as labelled.
“Investigation into the case is on top gear with a view to identifying owner and apprehending all those behind the crimes,” he added.
An airport official said: “The owner of the bags who fled is a foreign national who is likely travelling to Addis Ababa to connect to his country of destination.”
The Federal Government has said that it has conveyed about 1,890 passengers to Kaduna by road since the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was closed for runway repairs on Wednesday.