Lamido’s son faces money laundering charges

I’ve no hand in his money transaction, says governor
Was the eldest son of Jigawa state Governor Sule Lamido a cash courier for his father?
This question arose early yesterday when it emerged that Alhaji Aminu Sule had been arrested at Kano airport late Tuesday night by officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for false declaration of money while trying to board an Egypt Air flight to Cairo.
The answer is no, said Governor Lamido, who explained last night that Aminu was not laundering money on his behalf.
He explained that the young man was taking the money to an Egyptian hospital where his daughter is undergoing medication for a spinal cord condition.
Aminu, 34, was apprehended by officials of the anti-graft agency at midnight at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport after he declared the sum of $10,000, but was found to have another $40, 000 in his possession.
The spokesperson of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Owujere, said the commission has commenced investigating the matter, adding that Aminu will be charged to court for money laundering.
According to him, “We have a suspect in our custody in Kano and he will be arraigned for false declaration of money, which is an offence.”
Reacting to the development last night, Governor Lamido debunked a news report carried by an online news medium, Sahara Reporters, that his son was laundering money for him.
In a press statement issued by his Director of Press, Alhaji Umar Kyari Jitau, the governor declared, “For the purpose of removing the notion that (Aminu) was embarking on a money laundering mission on my behalf, I find it necessary to clarify the allegation.
“Aminu Sule has a daughter born with a spinal problem and was taken to Cleopatra Hospital in Cairo, Egypt, last year. She was in the hospital for three weeks for treatment, and was asked to be returned after three months for the second phase of the treatment, and this was done about four months ago.
“At the end of the second phase of the treatment, they were asked to return to the hospital for final examination after three months. It is on the third leg of the visit that Aminu was arrested by the EFCC, while trying to board an Egypt Air (flight) on Tuesday, 11th December, 2012, around 11:30pm.
“The impression that EFCC gave Sahara Reporters that he had been carrying several trips overseas on money laundering on my behalf is therefore false and mischievous to that extent.”