$8m Seizure, Reps Commend Customs

Abiodun OBA

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance has commended The Nigeria Customs Service over the $8,065,612m intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

Chairman of the committee, Mr James Faleke, officially commended the NSC for intercepting the cash when the Comptroller-General of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (retd) appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Finance in Abuja on Thursday.

Faleke likened the cash to the loot kept by a former military dictator, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, in foreign countries.

The Customs boss told the Committee that the cash, which was in $100 denomination, was found sealed in 20 wraps in six Bagco bags and packed in a coaster bus allegedly belonging to the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc.

Ali had said one person had been arrested in connection with the money, which was intercepted on January 16, 2020.

He told the committee that names were written on the bundles of the cash, which the Customs were investigating.

Alli has said Customs will hand over the intercepted money and the suspects to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for investigation and prosecution.

Men of the service had on Tuesday announced the seizure at the E-Wing of the international airport tarmac.