The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched an investigation into two travellers, identified as Mamud Nasidi and Yahaya Nasidi, who were found in possession of undeclared foreign currencies totalling over $6,000 and £53,000 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Terminal 2, in Lagos.

The anti-graft agency confirmed the development in a statement posted on its verified X handle on Saturday.

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, based in Ikoyi, are handling the investigation after the suspects were apprehended by personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria during a routine check on Saturday.

Earlier reports from The PUNCH indicated that the suspects were initially intercepted at the foot of an Aero Contractors’ aircraft with a much larger undeclared sum, allegedly running into over $6.1 million in cash, and had claimed to be security officials travelling with the money as an exhibit for a suspect.

However, the EFCC’s official statement clarified that the duo, who had arrived in Nigeria from Dubai via Addis Ababa and were en route to Abuja, allegedly failed to declare the sums of $6,180 and £53,415 in their possession, as required by law.

Following their arrest by FAAN, the suspects were initially handed over to the Department of State Services before being formally transferred to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution. The commission also confirmed the seizure of three mobile phones found on the suspects at the time of their arrest.

The EFCC statement provided details of the transfer and the ongoing probe. “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, have commenced investigations of two travellers arrested by operatives of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $6,180 and £53,415 cash in their possession,” the statement read. “Also found on the suspects are three mobile phones. The suspects and the exhibits were received by CSE Margaret Lamai on behalf of the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE1 Ahmed Ghali.”