The Federal High Court in Kano on Friday declared that Aminu Sule Lamido is guilty of money laundering charge leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
But in spite of the conviction by Justice Fatu Riman, the 34-year old son of Jigawa State governor will not serve any prison term.
He is expected to only refund the 25 per cent of the $40,000 allegedly laundered to the Federal Government.
Aminu Lamido will pay $10,000 to government coffers.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, Justice Riman handed down the conviction having established that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The statement said: “Aminu Sule Lamido, the 34-year old son of Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who is being prosecuted by the EFCC for offences bordering on money laundering, was today convicted by Justice Fatu Riman of the Federal High Court, Kano, and ordered to forfeit 25 percent of the undeclared sum of $40,000
“Aminu was arrested on December 11, 2012 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on his way to Egypt for failure to declare the $50,000 in his possession. He only declared $10,000 to the Nigerian Customs Service.
“When he was arraigned before Justice Riman on Monday February 4, 2013, Aminu pleaded not guilty to the charge and was remanded in prison pending hearing of his application for bail.
“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 from Nigeria to Cairo, Egypt, falsely declare to the Nigerian Customs the sum of $10,000 (instead of the said sum of $50,000) 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”.
“At the resumed hearing on February 5, 2013, Justice Riman granted the accused person bail in the sum of N8million and two sureties in like sum.
”In the course of trial, which got underway April 19, 2013, the prosecution called four witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted as exhibits.
“One of its witnesses, Sanusi Ahmed who is an operative of the EFCC, 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.”
source: nigerianeye
0 comments :
Post a Comment