The anti-corruption agency confirmed the incident in a statement shared on its verified X account on Saturday.

Operatives from the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the EFCC, headquartered in Ikoyi, are overseeing the inquiry after the suspects were apprehended by personnel from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria during a routine inspection on Saturday.

Previous reports from The NIGERIANWATCH indicated that the suspects were first intercepted at the base of an Aero Contractors’ aircraft with an even larger undeclared amount, reportedly exceeding $6.1 million in cash, while contending that they were security personnel transporting the money as evidence for a suspect.

However, the EFCC’s official statement clarified that the pair, who arrived in Nigeria from Dubai via Addis Ababa and were headed to Abuja, allegedly did not declare the amounts of $6,180 and £53,415 that they held, as mandated by law.

After their apprehension by FAAN, the suspects were initially turned over to the Department of State Services before being formally handed to the EFCC for further inquiry and potential prosecution. The agency also confirmed the confiscation of three mobile phones found on the suspects at the time of their detention.

The EFCC statement gave details regarding the transfer and the ongoing investigation. “Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Okotie Eboh, Ikoyi, Lagos, have begun investigations into two travelers captured by operatives from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, for allegedly failing to declare the sums of $6,180 and £53,415 in cash that they possessed,” the statement stated. “Also found with the suspects were three mobile phones. The suspects and the evidence 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.”