In a decisive ruling, the Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced a man to prison over his failure to declare a whopping $40,000 in cash while attempting to travel out of the country.
The convict, whose identity was revealed during court proceedings, was nabbed by security operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport after he failed to comply with the mandatory declaration of funds exceeding $10,000, as required by Nigerian law.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the undeclared cash was discovered during a routine screening. The court found the man guilty of contravening the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, sentencing him to a jail term with an option of a fine.
The ruling sends a strong message to travelers and financial crime offenders, reinforcing the zero-tolerance stance of the judiciary on illicit financial movements. Authorities have since warned that stricter checks will continue at all international departure points.
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