by Hauwa Gambo

Well, that explains it.

The governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido  – whose son was arrested at the Aminu Kano Airport, Kano on Wednesday – has an explanation for the thousands of dollars that have now put his son in trouble.

Aminu was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  and  the Nigerian Customs Service after he was found in possession of $40,000 which he did not declare before boarding an Egypt Air plane to Cairo.

“Aminu Lamido had a daughter born with spinal chord problem and was taken to Cleopatra Hospital in Cairo, Egypt last year,” the governor said in a statement yesterday. “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 examination after three months.

“It was on the third leg of the visit that Lamido was arrested  by the EFCC while trying to board the Egypt Air on Tuesday.

“The impression the EFCC gave that he embarks on several trips abroad on money laundering on my behalf is therefore false and mischievous to that extent.”

The EFCC has however granted Lamido bail. The commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, says he will be charged to court soon.