EFCC Uncovers N.5b Hidden in Lagos Shopping Plaza

By Dipo Olowookere

Almost N500 million has been discovered from a shopping plaza in Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

It was gathered that the money was stashed in several Ghana Must Go bags and in N500 and N1000 denominations, hidden in a shop awaiting conversion into foreign currency.

The discovery, we learnt, was made on Friday evening by the anti-graft agency in a shop at LEGICO Shopping Plaza on Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The total amount recovered was N448.9 million.

It was said that the EFCC raided the premises following a tip-off by a “concerned whistle blower” and sought the identity of the owners of two shops, LS 64 and LS 67 which were under locks and keys and had signages of Bureau de Change.

When questions were asked about the owner of shop 64, it was disclosed that he had not been seen for a long time, as those around the area claimed the shop had not been opened for business for close to two years.

Several calls were put to the owner of shop 67 but there was no response.

However, the EFCC sought the attention of the plaza’s chairman and some traders in order to force the shops open. There was no money found in shop 67, but in shop 64, heaps of ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags were found loaded on the floor of the shop.

When the bags were unzipped, they were found to contain bundles of naira notes totalling N448,850,000.

Traders interviewed at the premises claimed they were not aware such money was housed in there, as the place hardly opens for business.

Meanwhile, the EFCC said it was investigating the matter in order to unravel the owner and source of the money.