The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigations of a suspect, Okorie Sylvernus Sunday, who was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, by the operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with $578, 000 USD.

The investigations commenced on Friday, March 21, when the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the airport on Friday, March 21, 2025, handed over Sunday and the monetary exhibit to the EFCC for allegation of false currency declaration.

The suspect was arrested by the Customs upon his arrival from Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday, March 19.

On arrival, he had approached the Currency Declaration Desk and declared the sum of $279,000 USD.

However, an additional sum of $299, 000 USD, was found to be secretly concealed in different packages, thereby totaling $578, 000 USD.

During interrogation, the suspect was found to have also concealed the sum of €100 Euros, as well as a counterfeit $250 USS

Speaking during the handing over, Harrison said: “This is in contravention of the provisions of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, which stipulates that any currency or other forms of negotiable instruments , where the value exceeds $10,000 threshold or its equivalent must be properly declared for inbound and outbound passengers.”

Harrison, who spoke on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, added that; “the Command will be handing over a total sum of $578, 000 USD to the EFCC for false currency declaration.”

While receiving the suspect, the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ahmed Ghali, commended the NCS for its cooperation with the EFCC.

He stated that inter-agency collaboration was very crucial to achieving a common goal, adding that “We are here today to take over one passenger coming from South Africa for falsely declaring the cash he was carrying along. I want members of the public to be weary of this kind of act.

“It is incumbent on each and every person going out or coming into the country to declare any cash in excess of $10,000. It is mandatory by virtue of the provisions of our laws, especially the money laundering law.”

He also appealed to the members of the public to desist from the act of false declaration or non-declaration, adding that the long arm of the laws would always catch up with anyone involved in the criminal act.

“We will not allow anyone to sabotage the economy or the nation’s financial system. This is because this kind of act exposes the country to a lot of risks, in terms of money laundering; it also makes the country to be seen as a haven of fraud.

“We will continue to synergise to make sure we have a better country, a stronger economy and a more functional financial system,” he said.

Gunmen have abducted a Nigerian Navy officer attached to the Defence Headquarters, Lt. Cynthia Akor, along with two others in Abuja.

The victims were kidnapped from their residence in the Mpape area of the Federal Capital Territory on Friday night.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reason, confirmed the development to our correct on Saturday.

The source, who lives in the same area with the victims, said the kidnappers have contacted the families of the hostages, demanding a ransom of N100 million for their release.

“Anong the three people that were kidnapped on Friday night in the Mpape area is a DHQ official, Akor.

“The kidnappers have already reached out to their families and are demanding N100m ransom,” the source said.

Efforts to reach the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Markus Kangye, and the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, were unsuccessful, as they had yet to respond to messages as of the time of filing this report.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said she would confirm the incident and provide further details.

“I will confirm and get back to you shortly,” she simply stated.

She has not reverted as of the time of filing this report.

The Oyo Police Command has apprehended two person in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital over possession of human body.

Police said that the suspects specialised in exhuming buried corpses and selling their body parts for ritual purpose in Ibadan.

A statement by the spokesman of the Command, Adewale Osifeso while narrating how the suspects were arrested said: “On Tuesday March 18, 2025, at about 0230Hrs, detectives from the Iyaganku Divisional Police Headquarters, acting on a tip-off, conducted a search at the residence of one Ridwan Bello, a 35yrs,’m’ also known as Asalailu, located at the Muslim area of Ibadan.

“During the search, a female human torso and other dismembered human remains, including severed limbs and dried bones, which were stored in bags and a paint bucket were recovered. In his confession, Bello claimed to have exhumed the corpse from a cemetery in Awa-Ijebu, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, and admitted to selling the body parts to ritualists. He later led detectives to the cemetery, where his claim was verified.

“Further confession by the suspect led to the arrest of one Fatai Adeleke, 70 yrs ‘m’, his accomplice who buys human parts from the suspect for ritual purposes. Adeleke also admitted to his involvement in the illicit trade in human body parts.

“The case has transferred to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department for detailed investigation, as efforts are being intensified to identify and apprehend all those involved.

“The Command urges managers of cemeteries to exercise heightened vigilance in light of recent instances of ritualists exhuming corpses. Additionally, transporters are advised to scrutinize the contents of their passengers’ loads to avoid inadvertently facilitating illicit activities.

“Finally, the Command encourages the general public to report any suspicious occurrences to the Police or other law enforcement agencies. Contact the Oyo State Call Response Center at 615 or use the following numbers: 08081768614, 09054133071, and 09061299291.

“Remember, if you see something, say something. Together, we can enhance the safety and security of our community.”