I have a friend who is from the UK.  He was issued an bank draft issued from a Nigerian bank for subcontract work he completed in Lagos.  He wants to return to the UK, but was told by customs agents that he could not leave without paying a 1% tax on the total draft amount.  This is a substantial amount which he does not have.  He was told an option was to open non resident bank account for $1000 US!   Then he could deposit the draft, wait for it to clear, then his only option would be to have the money wired to a beneficiarys account outside the country.  This, he was told would cost 1.5% of the total draft amount!  We are talking thousands of dollars.   Additionally, he was told he would not be able to access these funds himself.

Has anyone had any experience with international bank drafts and trying to cash them?  Or has anyone encountered the tax problem and how did you resolve it.

Is there a bank I could recommend to him that might work with him on this problem.  This is urgent and if anyone can assist with a solution, I'd be so grafteful! 

i have a bank draft too , but i dont know which bank i can deposit it in in Nigeria and am only 17