Court remands Lamido's son in prison over money laundering

The Federal High Court, Kano Division on Monday remanded the son of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Aminu Sule Lamido, in prison custody following his arraignment on a count charge of money laundering.

Justice Fatu Riman ordered that Aminu remains in prison pending the hearing and determination of his bail application Tuesday.

The judge's decision followed the submission of prosecuting counsel, S.H Sa'ad, whereof he prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of trial and remand the accused in prison custody pending hearing of his bail application.

The defence counsel, O.E.D. Offiong (SAN) unsuccessfully prayed the court to admit his client to bail as he was already on administrative bail.

Had Aminu entered a guilty plea, he would have been fined and made to forfeit about 20 per cent of the said amount he failed to disclose or declare.                          .

The charge reads: 'That you Aminu Sule Lamido on or about 11th day of December, 2012 at the Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court while transporting in cash, the sum of $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars Only) from Nigeria to Cairo, Egypt, falsely declared to the Nigerian Customs the sum of $10,000 (Ten Thousand Dollars Only) instead of the said sum of $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars Only) as required 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 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(5) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011.'

According to a statement, the EFCC's Head of Media and Public Enlightenment, Wilson Uwujaren, 'the accused was arrested by operatives of the EFCC at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Kano on December 11, 2012 on his way to Cairo, Egypt. He was arrested for failure to declare the $50,000 in his possession. He only declared $10,000 to the Nigerian Customs.'