Crime
EFCC probes woman arrested with undeclared $14,567, £1030, CA$40 at Lagos airport
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced investigations into Phil-Olumba Sheila, who was arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service for allegedly failing to declare significant sums of foreign currencies at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
Sheila was intercepted by Customs officers during a routine check on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, while attempting to board a flight to the United Kingdom.
Upon interrogation, she claimed to be in possession of only $4,000.
However, a further search revealed she had $14,567, £1,030, and CA $40 in her possession, all of which she allegedly failed to declare.
A statement on Thursday by the EFCC’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said the investigation would be done by the Lagos zonal office.
“The Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos have commenced investigation of one Phil-Olumba Ifunaya Sheila arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $14,567, £1030 and CA$40.
“Sheila was intercepted by operatives of the NCS during a routine check on Tuesday , July 22, 2025 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
“Upon arrest, the suspect, who was scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom, claimed she had only $4,000 on her,” the statement partly read.
In a related development, he also said the EFCC has also launched an investigation into a parcel intercepted by NCS and Nigerian Postal Service officials containing ZW\$101 trillion equivalent to ₦426.09 billion, and 41.64 million Vietnamese Dong, valued at approximately ₦95,746.
The Area Comptroller of Customs at the airport, E.J. Harrison, during the handover of the suspect and the intercepted parcel to EFCC officials, stated, “Today, we have two interceptions coming from different parts of the Command. One involves a suspect arrested at the airport, and the other, a suspicious parcel discovered during routine examination at NIPOST.”
He commended the vigilance of officers involved, noting that the agency remains committed to preventing the influx of questionable funds into the country.
Receiving the suspect and items, M.A. Timta, an EFCC operative representing the acting Zonal Director of Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, Ahmed Ghali, assured that the Commission would expedite investigations and, where necessary, ensure prosecution.
Timta also lauded the NCS for its continued efforts in curbing illicit financial transactions and assured the public of the EFCC’s resolve to tackle economic crimes in collaboration with relevant agencies.
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The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 10-man syndicate in Minna suspected of specialising in the international trafficking of unsuspecting victims, along with 36 undocumented youths of different nationalities.
According to the command’s spokesman, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the syndicate operated under false pretences as travel agents, engaging in the extortion of their victims.
Abiodun revealed that the suspects were arrested on July 18, 2025, at about 12:30 pm, following credible intelligence received about their activities along 123 Quarters, Minna.
Those arrested include Sokou Doumbia, Thiarno Balbe, Hashimu Dauda Kolo, Usman Doumbia, Musa Konate, Lamine Watara, Acine Diouf, Adamu Zarbu, Alhassan Konde and Dango Aminatu.
They were discovered to be nationals of various neighbouring West African countries and primarily spoke French, except for their Nigerian collaborator, Hashimu, who provided accommodation for the syndicate in Minna.
The operation led to the rescue of 36 undocumented youths from countries such as Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
He disclosed that, during interrogation, they claimed to have come to Nigeria for an online business.
All the suspects and victims have been transferred to Interpol for further investigation and other necessary actions.
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The only female among the suspects said her only connection to the illegal miners was her proficiency in speaking Mandarin, a widely spoken language in China.
At least seven Chinese and four Nigerians have been arrested for alleged illegal mining of ilmenite in Akwa Ibom state.
The suspects were arrested by men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Dele Oyewale, EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, said Monday, July 28, that Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency apprehended the suspects on Thursday last week, July 24, at Emem-Asuk, Eastern Obolo Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
Oyewale said, “The Chinese suspects are Yang Chaobao, 32, Zhong Dun Yi , 33, Cheng Jiang , 35, Zhong Dun Long , 37, Pan Peiming , 33, Lai Yiping, 37 and Zhu Lekun, 35.
“Their Nigerian accomplices are: David Israel, 18, Jonah Bartholomew Jim , 24, Samuel Samuel Timothy, 20, and a female translator named Comfort Gabriel Ajaga , 23.
“They are operating in the Eastern Obolo area, where they were arrested whilst setting up mining equipment at a second location. They were already engaged in the illegal activities at their first location, mining ilmenite, locally called black sand.”
The only female among the suspects said her only connection to the illegal miners was her proficiency in speaking Mandarin, a widely spoken language in China.
“I am a student studying Chinese language at a Learning Centre in Anambra State and I only work with them as a translator,” she said.
“The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation,” Oyewale disclosed.
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The suspect allegedly sold one of the stolen televisions for N40,000.
A 22-year-old carpenter, Auwal Mohammed has been arrested for stealing.
Men of the Bauchi State Police Command arrested Mohammed for allegedly stealing four brand new plasma televisions from his client’s house.
The spokesperson of the command, CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, July 28, 2025 said the suspect allegedly sold one of the stolen televisions for N40,000.
“On July 26, 2025, at about 16:00 hours, the Bauchi State Police Command apprehended Auwal Mohammed, a 22-year-old carpenter residing in the Sabon Railway area of Bauchi metropolis, in connection with the theft of four 43-inch plasma televisions,” the statement read.
“Auwal Mohammed, who was working as a carpenter at the residence of an unidentified individual, allegedly discovered the new televisions in one of the rooms of the premises.
“It is reported that he subsequently relocated the televisions to a concealed area within the house, where they remained for around two weeks. Following this period, he is said to have taken the televisions to the residence of a neighbor for safekeeping and received a sum of N50,000 as credit.
“Further investigation has indicated that the suspect later sold one of the stolen 43-inch televisions to an individual known to deal in stolen goods for N40,000. Efforts are currently being made to apprehend his accomplice and recover the stolen property.
“The investigation is ongoing, and upon its conclusion, Auwal Mohammed will be formally profiled and charged to court of law.”
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