The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has started the investigation of Phil-Olumba Ifunaya Sheila, who was apprehended by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for allegedly refusing to declare the sums of $14,567, £1030, and CA$40.
Sheila was stopped at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos by operatives during a routine check on Tuesday , July 22, 2025.
The suspect, upon arrest, was on he way to the United Kingdom (UK).
According to the EFCC: “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos have commenced investigation of one Phil-Olumba Ifunaya Sheila arrested by the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $14,567 ( Fourteen Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty-seven United States Dollars), £1030 ( One Thousand and Thirty British Pounds Sterling) and CA$40 ( Forty Canadian Dollars).
“Sheila was intercepted by operatives of the NCS during a routine check on Tuesday , July 22, 2025 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
“Upon arrest, the suspect, who was scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom, claimed she had only $4,000 on her.
“In a related development, the Commission has also begun investigation of a parcel containing ZW 101,000,000,000,000 (One Hundred and One Trillion Zimbabwean Dollars), equivalent to ₦426,091,066,068.06, and 41,640,000 VND (Forty‑one Million Six Hundred and Forty Thousand Vietnamese Dong), equivalent to ₦95,746.52, which was intercepted by officials of the Nigerian Postal Service , NIPOST, and operatives of the NCS.
“During the handing over of the suspect and the various foreign currencies, the Area Comptroller in charge of the NCS at the Airport , E.J.Harrison, said: “Today, we have two interceptions that we want to handover to the EFCC. And they are coming from two separate places in the Command.
““The first one comes from an area that we may not know so much about, but it is part of our coverage and area of responsibility-that is NIPOST( Nigerian Postal Service).
““We intercepted a parcel that contained foreign currencies.
““In fact, it was the vigilance and dedication of our officers and the NIPOST’s officials, while examining the parcel, that it was discovered that someone was trying to bring in a load of currencies into Nigeria.
““But it is our responsibility to ensure that such doesn’t happen.
““So, we have, today , a parcel that will be investigated by the appropriate agency of government.”
“While receiving the suspect and the money contained in the intercepted parcel, M.A. Timta , an operative of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, assured the Service that the EFCC would, as usual, expedite action on investigation of the parcel as well as investigation and prosecution of the suspect.
“Timta, who spoke on behalf of the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Ahmed Ghali, commended the Service for its sustained efforts in tackling illegal financial activities in the country.”
