The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Tuesday, December 21, 2021 announced the arrest of Khalil Bashir Lawal with 576 ATM cards at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. Lawal was nabbed Monday, December 20. According to Wilson Uwujaren, Head, Media and Publicity, operatives of the Commission intercepted Lawal in collaboration with Nigeria Aviation Security, and Nigeria Customs Service, under the aegis of Special Task Force on Money Laundering. “Upon his arrest, it was discovered that Khalil, who was traveling to Uganda with Ethiopian Airline, had concealed 576 ATM cards bearing different names and banks in his luggage,” he said in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
He said the suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
The Commission had arrested three suspects at the Kano Airport between November 24 and December 1, 2021 while they were trying to smuggle a total of 1,144 ATM cards. A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Jamilu Shehu on December 20, 2021, convicted and sentenced them to six months imprisonment each. .
Barely two hours after the conviction, the Kano Command of the Commission again arrested Lawal at the same Airport with 576 ATM Cards.