A Lebanese national has been caught trying to smuggle monies in various currencies and denominations worth N940m out of Nigeria by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
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Operatives of the EFCC arrested one Abbas Lakis, a Lebanese for money laundering and contravening the financial rules of the country.
The EFCC said in a statement that the suspect was arrested with different foreign currencies valued at a combined N940m.
According to the spokesperson for the commission, Mr. Tony Orilade Lakis was picked up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, following intelligence report that he had on him, undeclared huge sums of monies aboard the Egypt Airline bringing him from the Kano Airport en route Lebanon.
Excerpts from the statement read;
“At the point of arrest a thorough search on his luggage uncovered $2,104,936; £163, 740; €144,680. Other currencies found with Lakis include 391,838 Saudi Riyal; 3,420 Swiss Francs; 435; 109,000 Lebanese pounds, 10,135 dirhams, ¥10,000 and 10 Qatar Riyal.”
The commission said he would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The development is seen as due vigilance of the part of the EFCC after years of reports of foreign nationals especially Indian, Lebanese and Chinese nationals directly contravening labour laws as well as financial laws of Nigeria and other parts of Africa.
In Kenya, two Chinese nationals were arrested and slammed with corruption charges after it was discovered they siphoned KS10bn a day from light rail services which the Chinese government helped the Kenyans build.