By Francis Wilfred
The Supreme Court has affirmed the forfeiture of $40,000 in undeclared cash to the Federal Government by Aminu Sule Lamido, following his conviction for false declaration of foreign currency at the Aminu Kano International Airport. The ruling, delivered on Friday, January 16, 2026, upheld earlier judgments of the Federal High Court in Kano and the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division.Aminu Sule Lamido, son of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, was arrested on December 11, 2012, by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while en route to Cairo, Egypt. He was found in possession of $50,000 but declared only $10,000 to officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
According to a press release signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the false declaration violated Nigeria’s foreign exchange and anti-money laundering laws. The undeclared cash formed the basis of a one-count charge bordering on money laundering and false declaration of funds.Lamido was arraigned on February 4, 2013, before Justice Fatun O. Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano. The charge stated that he knowingly and falsely declared $10,000 instead of the actual $50,000, contrary to Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap F31, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted on July 12, 2013. Justice Riman ordered the forfeiture of $40,000—the undeclared portion of the cash—to the Federal Government.Dissatisfied with the judgment, Lamido appealed to the Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division, on January 5, 2016. The appellate panel, led by Justice Habeeb Adewale O. Abiru, alongside Justices Isaiah Olufemi Akeju and Oludotun O. Adefope-Okojie, dismissed the appeal and upheld both the conviction and the forfeiture order.Lamido subsequently approached the Supreme Court in suit number SC/201/2016, challenging the decisions of the lower courts. In its final judgment on January 16, 2026, the apex court resolved all grounds of appeal in favour of the EFCC.
The Supreme Court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the trial and appellate courts were right in their findings. The judgment effectively brought the long-running case to a close.Legal analysts say the ruling reinforces Nigeria’s regulatory framework on cash movement across borders and strengthens enforcement against undeclared cash by air travelers. It also sets a judicial precedent supporting the EFCC’s mandate in cases involving false declaration of funds at Nigerian airports.The EFCC described the decision as a significant boost to the fight against money laundering and financial crimes, stressing that travelers must comply strictly with currency declaration requirements to avoid sanctions.
