Nigerian Diplomat Caught in India


A senior Nigerian diplomat was reportedly caught by Indian authorities on Monday as he was trying to board a flight from New Delhi to Lagos with $2.27 million (about N300 million) in cash in his possession.

The diplomat, Defence Adviser to the Nigerian High Commissioner in India, Captain G.A. Ojedokun, was reportedly caught when Indian Airlines staff members handling baggage on the early morning shift at the Indira Gandhi International Airport were alerted by the X-ray images of the contents of his bag.

It was reported that when Ojedokun was questioned concerning their findings, he tried to deceive the airline employees.

His case was later transferred to income tax officials, who seized the money from him.
An Indian tax department spokesman, A.K. Sinha, told the Associated Press (AP) yesterday that “the diplomat did not explain where the cash came from.”

He said when the tax department seized the money and handed Ojedokun to the country’s External Affairs Ministry, he had to be released on account of the immunity he enjoyed.
“The Income Tax department seized the cash, but released the diplomat after informing the External Affairs Ministry,” Sinha said.

AP also reported the ministry as confirming the report. The ministry was quoted to have said in a statement that Ojedokun was to leave New Delhi for Lagos by an Ethiopian Airline flight yesterday.

“He disclosed that he was carrying nearly $1.5 million in his check-in baggage,” the statement was quoted to have said, adding that a search by Indian tax officials resulted in “the seizure of $2.27 million in cash from his person and baggage.