Sierra Leonean Man Arraigned in Lagos for Alleged Failure to Declare $90,000

A Sierra Leonean national, Alhaji Ahmed Shaw, has been arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for allegedly failing to declare $90,000 to the Nigeria Customs Service at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Shaw was reportedly apprehended by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on March 3, 2025, while attempting to leave the country without disclosing the funds as required by Nigerian law. Following his arrest, he was handed over to the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 5, 2025, for further investigation.

On April 3, 2025, the EFCC arraigned Shaw on a one-count charge of money laundering. According to the charge sheet, Shaw failed to declare the $90,000—a violation of Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.

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The charge reads: “That you, ALHAJI AHMED SHAW, on the 3rd day of March, 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to make a declaration of the sum of $90,000 (Ninety Thousand United States of America Dollars) to the Nigeria Customs Service at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.”

Shaw pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel C.C. Okezie requested a trial date and asked that Shaw be remanded in custody pending trial. Justice Dipeolu granted the application and ordered that Shaw be remanded at a correctional facility. The case was adjourned until April 15, 2025, for trial proceedings to commence.