Gov Lamido’s son arrested for money laundering

Aminu Lamido, Governor's son

Gov. Lamido

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigeria Customs Service on Wednesday at Mallam Aminu Kano Airport arrested Aminu, the eldest son of Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, over alleged money laundering.

Sources at the airport said Aminu was arrested in the process of boarding an Egypt Air to Cairo by 12.30am by officials of the EFCC.

It was learnt that the son of the governor declared $10,000 at the counter, while further search and interrogation led to the uncovering of another $40,000, which was concealed in his luggage.

He was promptly arrested by the EFCC officials.

Spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the arrest, said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigations were completed.

It was learnt that Aminu had been transferred to EFCC custody, pending his arraignment in court.

Several efforts to contact the governor’s spokesman, Umar Kyari, on the arrest of Lamido’s son failed as his phone was not reachable.

Meanwhile, a group, Anti Corruption Network, has asked the Federal Government to sack and prosecute the entire management and board of the Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company over the missing N2.1bn.

The money, newly-printed N1000 notes, allegedly disappeared from the NSPMC’s vaults last week.

The group, which staged a protest at Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday, warned that any attempt to sweep the matter under the carpet would be resisted.

The group said only a 30 tonne truck or about three bullion vans could move such a huge volume of physical cash.

It, therefore, wondered how such a huge amount of money could disappear without any trace.

Lagos State Coordinator of the group, Mr. Ayo Oyalowo, said, “We are gathered here today as law-abiding and concerned citizens of Nigeria to show our displeasure towards the shameless and barefooted looting that has characterised the present government in Nigeria.

“How do you explain the disappearance of a whopping N2.1bn from the vaults of the NSPMC? And as we speak, all that have been done or we have heard from the officials are some half-hearted and unconvincing speeches.

“Let the Federal Government of Nigeria immediately fire the entire management and board of NSPMC. We also ask that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission diligently prosecute anyone found culpable in this shameful act.”

He said a society where criminals continued to get away with huge crimes, is giving an open invitation to anarchy.

“Such development will ultimately force the people to take the laws into their own hands,” Oyalowo said.