A Kano-based woman, Hauwa Abdullahi Ibrahim has been convicted for smuggling $1,154,900 and 135,900 Saudi Riyals from Saudi Arabia into Nigeria. Hauwa was jailed after pleading guilty to a two-count charge of money laundering before Justice S.M Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano.
Hauwa was arrested by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano after she failed to declare the funds as required by law.
The EFCC thereafter charged her to court on a two-count charge of money laundering under Section 3(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Upon her arraignment, she pleaded guilty to both count charges when they were read to her.
In view of her plea, counsel to the prosecution, Musa Isah reviewed the facts of the case and tendered exhibits, including the undeclared amount and subsequently prayed the court to convict her accordingly.
Justice Shuaibu however allowed an allocutus, which gave her the opportunity to narrate her story before the court. She disclosed that she was approached by one Nafiu in Saudi Arabia to assist her to carry along one box from Saudi to Nigeria, adding that when she enquired about the content of the box, he allegedly told her that it contained dates and small amount of cash.
In view of her plea for mercy, Justice Shuaibu convicted the defendant as charged and ordered the forfeiture of the undeclared money to the Federal Government.
