The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has announced the arrest of one Bashir Abdu, a Nigerian resident in Dubai at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, with $130,000 in cash.
The statement signed by its spokesperson, Wilson Uwajuren, said the suspect was on board Egypt Air when he was arrested by operatives of the commission for failing to declare the $130,000.
“He only declared the gold bars with him and 30,000 Saudi Riyals,’’ it alleged, stating that arrangements had already been made to charge the suspect to court under Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 and Section 2 sub-Section (5) of the Money Laundering Act 2011.
Just last week, operatives of the commission had arrested Aminu Lamido, the eldest son of the Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido at the same airport on his way to Cairo, Egypt, for money laundering.
“Lamido, who is currently on administrative bail, was arrested during security checks as he prepared to board an Egypt Air flight to Cairo.
“His arrest followed the discovery that he allegedly declared only 10,000 dollars as being in his possession, to the Nigerian Customs at the airport.
“A physical search by operatives of the EFCC, however, found that he had tucked away another 40,000 dollars, making a total of 50,000 dollars,’’ the statement said.