Custom seizes $271,135 from airport workers

hands them over to EFCC

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Monday, handed over Owolabi Tijani and Uwan Livinus, arrested at the weekend for attempting to traffic over $271,135 out of the country, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Thelma Williams, public relations officer of the Airport Customs Command, said Tijani was a staff of Patovillki, a cleaning firm at the airport, saying the money was handed over to the anti-graft agency for further investigation and proper prosecution.

The anti-graft agency would carry out thorough investigation on the circumstances leading to the crime, Williams said.

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 officials of Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who attempted to smuggle $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 one Omoseun, who he referred to as Iya Urobo, and one other Uwan Livinus. Statements were therefore taken from the suspects and officers who witnessed the process. The said sum of money is kept in the safe, hence this incident report, the EFCC will give further details of the incident,” she said.