Northern Operation 05/02/2011 05:55:00

http://thenationonlineng.net/web3/news/26971.html

Following the interception of $10 million cash at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, yesterday by a joint team of the State Security Service and the police, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mrs. Farida Waziri, has raised a team to probe the people behind the movement of the said sum.

According to findings, a team of SSS and policemen had intercepted two people trying to ferry $10million and E1m(euro) cash abroad.

The two suspects, who had arrived at the local wing of the airport late in the evening, were on their way to the international wing when the SSS and the Police made the discovery during a routine check.

A highly placed source said: "The suspects had left the local wing to connect a flight to Dubai but the manner in which the cash was being transported left room for suspicion.

"When the security agents conducted a thorough search, they made the huge discovery, prompting an alert to all law enforcement agencies.

"Upon their arrest, the suspects were transferred to the Force CID for interrogation on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Hafiz Ringim."

The source added that security agencies were working on three theories on why the suspects chose to transport raw cash.

It was gathered that the security agencies suspected that the money might be part of unspent funds repatriated to Nigeria by some politicians for the 2011 polls.

Another clue being worked on borders on the suspicion that the funds might be for terrorism financing as the case with security situation in Jos and Maiduguri.

But the EFCC is suspicious of the fact that the curious cash might be a case of money laundering or terrorism financing.

The source added: "There must be more to the cash in transit in view of the security challenges being faced in some parts of the country.

"The cash is likely to be for terrorism financing in view of the region (Dubai and other Gulf states) where the money was being shipped to.

"We are also looking at those who have sponsored the suspects on the trip to Dubai."

As at press time yesterday, the EFCC chairman had asked a team, led by the commission’s Head of Operations in Lagos, Zubair Muazu, to "liaise with the Police command in Lagos so that the anti-graft agency can take over full-scale investigation of the matter.

"The case is purely about money laundering and it is within the purview of the mandate of the EFCC."

When contacted, the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Femi Babafemi, said: "It is true that the EFCC chairman has directed our team to work with the Police and any moment from now, we will commence investigation and possible prosecution of the suspects."