The $271,135 intercepted last week by security officers at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos belongs to a group of traders, Daily Trust gathered.
A source privy to the matter told Daily Trust that the foreign currency does not belong to a single person.
The source said: “The money is believed to be owned by some business people who wanted to use it to transact businesses in China. You know some people pull their resources together and sponsor one person on a trip because it is not all of them that can afford the travelling expenses. Actually, the suspect was allegedly contracted to pass the money to the someone to take to China, but the person had already boarded a flight. The cleaner who was arrested while attempting to transfer the money to another person could not escape the screening check because under normal circumstances, if a traveller is embarking on an international journey with more than 10, 000 dollars, such excess amount has to be declared to Customs”.
The Public Relations Officer of Customs, Airport command, Mrs. Williams Thelma, confirmed in a statement that the two suspects were handed over to the EFCC for further investigation.
Williams gave the names of the two suspects as: Mr. Owolabi Tijani, a staff of Patovillki, a cleaning firm at the airport and one Mr Uwan Livinus.
She said the money was handed over to the anti – graft agency for safe keeping and further investigation.
In an incident report the Customs spokesperson said: “At about 11.00hrs on September 3, 2015, one Owolabi Tijani a staff of Patovilki “Cleaning Firm” was apprehended by FAAN officials who attempted to smuggle US$271,135 through “D” wing departure screening point. The said Owolabi after interrogation confirmed to FAAN Officials names of people involved in the crime, including Mrs Omo seun (Iya Urobo) and Uwan Livinus. Statements were taken from the suspects and officers who witnessed the process’’.
