My son not a money launderer- Governor Lamido

Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa on Thursday in Dutse said that his son was not in any way involved in money laundry.
He described the arrest of his eldest son, Aminu Lamido, 34, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over alleged money laundering as “false and mischievous”.
Mr. Lamido’s son was arrested on Tuesday by operatives of the EFCC at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport with $50, 000.
In a statement signed by the Director of Press to the Governor, Umar Kyari, Mr. Lamido said his arrested son was not involved in money laundering.
“The impression the EFCC gave to Sahara Reporters that he had been making several trips overseas on money laundering on my behalf is false and mischievous.
“For the purpose of removing the notion that he embarked on money laundering on my behalf, I find it necessary to clarify the allegation,” the governor said in the statement.
The governor explained that Aminu was taking his daughter to Cleopatra Hospital in Egypt for medical treatment.
According to the statement, the daughter was previously treated at the hospital and was to report back for follow up on her condition with her doctors.
Governor Lamido did not however say how much was found on his son or why he failed to discuss the exact amount of foreign currency he had on him while trying to leave the country.
Reports say Aminu was released on administrative bail by the EFCC on Thursday. The commission had planned to arraign the governor’s son on Thursday, but could not due to the absence of judges in Kano, an official said.
Officials of the EFCC in Kano informed journalists that the commission decided to grant Mr. Aminu administrative bail pending when he will be arraigned.
The EFCC also hinted that the absence of judges in the state is due to a Judges conference taking place in Abuja.
Meanwhile, there was mixed reactions in Dutse over the arrest of the governor’s son by the EFCC.
A cross section of the residents said the incident had portrayed not only the son but the entire state in bad light.
A resident, Saleh Ado, said the arrest may not be unconnected to the alleged aspiration of Mr. Lamido to contest for the presidency in 2015.
”There are some people against Gov. Lamido’s presidential ambitions in 2015. So they will stop at nothing to deter him from achieving his aim,” he said.
Another resident, Adamu Zai, said that “the people of the state are happy with the development because of the governor’s children involvement in the affairs of the government”.
Mr. Zai charged the EFCC to investigate the matter thoroughly and prosecute him accordingly.
A trader, Ali Shehu, blamed Mr. Lamido’s son for deceiving custom officials at the airport by declaring $10,000 instead of all the money he had on him.
Mr. Shehu said that though the governor has been doing well in the state, this episode would tarnish his image and that of the state.
Aminu Lamido, was arrested by officials of the EFCC at the Mallam Aminu Kano international Airport, Kano, Wednesday, on his way to Egypt.
He was reportedly arrested on suspicions of money laundering.
Sources at the Airport said Aminu declared that he had only 10,000 dollars on him, but further search and scrutiny by the anti-graft officials revealed that he had a large undisclosed amount.
NAN