JUST IN: Ex-Jigawa Gov Sule Lamido, Sons to Face Arraignment Over N1.3bn Fraud

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 1 for the fresh arraignment of former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, over an alleged N1.3 billion fraud case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The decision was taken on Friday by Justice Peter Odo Lifu after the former governor and his two sons failed to appear in court to take their plea.

Lamido is expected to face trial alongside his sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido. The anti-graft agency accused the trio of participating in a money laundering scheme involving about N1.3 billion.

Prosecutors alleged that the funds were moved through questionable contract arrangements during Lamido’s tenure as governor of Jigawa State.

According to the EFCC, the alleged transactions were carried out through two companies linked to the family — Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited.

The arraignment scheduled for Friday could not proceed because the defendants were absent from court.

Their counsel, Mr. Joe Agi (SAN), apologised to the court and explained that his clients received notice of the court sitting only on Thursday evening. He told the court that Lamido and his sons currently reside in Kano and could not travel to Abuja on such short notice.

The senior lawyer assured the court that the defendants would be present on the next adjourned date to take their plea.

However, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Chile Okoroma (SAN), expressed surprise over the absence of the defendants. He maintained that they had been duly served with hearing notices and should have appeared before the court.

Okoroma also informed the court that the EFCC had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, requesting administrative steps concerning the judge who previously handled the matter.

Responding, Justice Lifu said issues relating to the EFCC’s correspondence were administrative and would be addressed by the office of the Chief Judge. He then adjourned the matter to April 1 for the defendants to appear and take their plea.

The corruption case dates back to 2015 when the EFCC filed a 27-count charge against Lamido, his sons and the two companies. The anti-graft agency alleged that the former governor abused his office between 2007 and 2015 by receiving kickbacks from state government contracts and laundering the proceeds.

During the earlier trial proceedings, the prosecution called more than sixteen witnesses before closing its case.

The defence team later filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not provided enough evidence to justify calling the defendants to open their defence.

In November 2022, the trial judge at the time, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, dismissed the application and directed the defendants to enter their defence.

The decision was challenged at the Court of Appeal. In July 2023, the appellate court ruled that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked territorial jurisdiction to try the case. The court held that the alleged offences took place in Jigawa State and should have been heard there.

The ruling effectively discharged Lamido and the other defendants at the time.

However, the EFCC took the matter to the Supreme Court, asking the apex court to overturn the appellate court’s decision.

On January 16, 2026, the Supreme Court of Nigeria set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal. A five-member panel led by Justice Abubakar Umar ruled that the defendants still had a case to answer.

The apex court subsequently ordered that the case be returned to the Federal High Court for continuation of trial.