Ex-Jigawa Governor Sule Lamido, sons to face new trial over N1.3bn alleged fraud

THE Federal High Court in Abuja, under Justice Peter Odo Lifu, has set April 1 for the re-arraignment of former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, over allegations of defrauding the state of N1.3 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is leading the prosecution.

The arraignment will also include Lamido’s two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, who are accused of colluding with their father to siphon public funds through the purported award of fictitious contracts.

The court fixed the new date after the defendants failed to appear for their plea on Friday. Lamido’s legal team, led by Joe Agi (SAN), explained that they only received notice of the hearing late Thursday evening. Agi said the family, based in Kano, could not travel to Abuja on such short notice but assured the court they would be present on the next scheduled date.

EFCC counsel, Chile Okoroma (SAN), expressed surprise at the absence of the defendants, noting that they had all been properly served. He also revealed that the EFCC had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, requesting that the original trial judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, who had since been transferred to Calabar, be brought back to Abuja to preside over the matter.

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Justice Lifu described the EFCC’s request as an administrative issue for the chief judge to decide but confirmed April 1 as the new date for arraignment.

The case dates back to 2015 when Lamido, his sons, and their companies – Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd -were charged with 27 counts of money laundering. The EFCC alleged the defendants laundered N1.3 billion, which were funds they allegedly received as kickbacks while Lamido served as governor between 2007 and 2015.

During the trial, EFCC presented over 16 witnesses before closing its case. The defendants then filed a no-case submission, claiming that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to require them to open their defence. Justice Ojukwu rejected this application in November 2022, ordering them to proceed with their defence.

Lamido subsequently appealed the ruling. In July 2023, the Court of Appeal sided with him, agreeing that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction because the alleged offences occurred in Jigawa State.

Undeterred, the EFCC took the matter to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. On January 16, 2026, a 5-member panel, in a unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Abubakar Umar, overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision, ruling that the case against Lamido and his sons could proceed. The apex court directed that the trial resume at the Federal High Court in Abuja.