EFCC Calls First Witness In Aminu Lamido's Trial

SAN FRANCISCO, April 19, (THEWILL) – The trial of Aminu Sule Lamido, son of Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido got underway Friday before Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano with the prosecution calling its first witness.

Aminu Sule Lamido is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for allegedly under declaring the money found on him as he prepared to board a Cairo, Egypt-bound flight at the Mallam Aminu Kano, Airport.

While being led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, the prosecution witness who is an operative of the EFCC, Sanusi Ahmed told the court that the accused person only registered $10,000 in the Nigerian Customs Declaration Form only for a search to reveal that he had $50,000 on him. He identified the Customs Declaration Form when it was shown to him. The document was accepted by court as exhibit 1.

Further hearing in the matter has been adjourned to April 29, 2013

The charge against the accused 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 declare 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”.