The absence of Justice Shehu Yahaya Wednesday stalled the planned arraignment of the son of Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Mallam Aminu Lamido, at the Federal High Court, Kano.
Although Lamido had been brought to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at about 8.45am, court officials were not ready to proceed with the trial.
An electronic statement from the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said after over 60 minutes of waiting that, “the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court announced that the judge was unavailable and promised to communicate a new date for the arraignment to the parties. He gave no reason for the judge’s absence.”
Mr. Lamido, who faces a one – count charge of money laundering, was arrested by the EFCC on December 12, 2012 at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on his way to Egypt, for failure to declare the $50,000 he had on him to Customs as required by law.
Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap F 34 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Section 2(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 requires that travelers declare their foreign currency before the Nigerian Customs Service.