Money Laundering: Court Remands Lamido’s Son In prison

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•Hearing begins today
Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano yesterday remanded the eldest son of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Aminu, in prison custody. Ritman also adjourned hearing till today. Aminu was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for a money laundering charge.
The accused was apprehended by EFCC operatives at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano on December 11, 2012 on his way to Cairo, Egypt during screening at the departure hall of the airport. He was caught with $50,000 found concealed in his luggage, while he officially declared $10,000 to officials of the Nigerian Customs Service, NSC, attached to the airport.
The act constitutes an offence under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.
The offence is punishable under Section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011. Aminu pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him, following which the prosecution counsel, S. H. Sa’ad, applied for a date for commencement of hearing.
The defence counsel, O. E. D. Offiong (SAN), pleaded with the judge to grant bail to his client, who is already on administrative bail but Sa’ad opposed the bail application.
He also opposed the demand by Offiong for the accused to be remanded in EFCC custody, saying he might tamper with the cause of investigation. Sa’ad added Aminu declined to appear for the first hearing and refused to get served when EFCC approached him with the service. The judge agreed with the prosecution counsel and ordered the accused be remanded in prison custody.