Nigeria, June 12 -- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it has arrested an aviation security officer at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, for allegedly attempting to smuggle gold worth more than N4.4 billion out of Nigeria.

The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by EFCC's Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

The anti-graft agency identified the suspect as Ali Baffa, an Inspector I with Aviation Security (AVSEC). It alleged that he concealed 22.2 kilogrammes of unprocessed gold bars in his trousers to evade security checks and facilitate their illegal export.

According to the statement, Mr Baffa and two other suspects, Aushabu Nasidi and Mukhtar Muhammad Dan Zaria, were...