EFCC arraigns FAAN official for $1.4m money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced investigation into the complicity of some staff of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, following the arrest of one of its officials, Akinyele Adetule, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, for being in possession of $1.4m (about N218m).

The suspect, who was arrested by the EFCC on Saturday, October 21, 2012, would be arraigned on Wednesday (today) before Justice Okechukwu Okeke of a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The arrest came on the heels of that of Abubakar Sheriff Tijjani, a bulk cash smuggler intercepted with $7,049.444 at the same MMIA on September 27 , 2012

The Head of Operations in EFCC, Mr. Iliyasu Kwarbai, said the suspect passed all security checks because he was wearing his FAAN Identity Card, but instead of boarding his flight, proceeded to make phone calls.

He said, “The suspect is a FAAN security guard. He wore his tag and was thus able to move freely in the airport without drawing any suspicion. He was carrying a bag and it went through the scanner. The suspect passed through the NDLEA and Customs and went to the waiting area; but he started making phone calls instead of proceeding to board his flight.’’