Supreme Court Orders Continuation Of Lamido’s, Sons’ Trial Over ₦1.35bn Fraud

The Supreme Court has ruled that the trial of former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, his two sons, over an alleged ₦1.35 billion fraud must continue at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

A five-man panel of the apex court gave the order after unanimously upholding two appeals filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The court agreed with the trial court’s position that the defendants still have questions to answer and should proceed to defend themselves.

The ruling overturned earlier judgments delivered on July 25, 2023, by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

The appellate court had upheld a no-case submission by Lamido and the other defendants, struck out the 37-count charge against them, and held that the Federal High Court lacked the authority to hear the case.

In the lead judgment, Justice Abubakar Umar set aside the Court of Appeal’s decision and restored the earlier ruling of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court.

Justice Ojukwu had dismissed the no-case submissions and ordered Lamido and the other accused persons to open their defence.

According to the EFCC, Lamido allegedly abused his office as governor between 2007 and 2015 by laundering funds said to have been received as kickbacks from companies awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government during his tenure.

The defendants standing trial alongside Lamido include his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, as well as Aminu Wada Abubakar and two companies, Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also dismissed an appeal filed by Aminu Sule Lamido, over his conviction for failing to properly declare $40,000 at an airport.