A federal high court in Abuja has fixed April 1 for the fresh arraignment of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, over an alleged N1.35 billion fraud case filed by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Peter Lifu set the new date after the defendants failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment. Counsel to the defendants, Joe Agi (SAN), apologised for their absence and explained that Lamido and his sons were notified about the court sitting only the previous evening.
Agi told the court that the defendants, who reside in Kano, could not travel to Abuja on such short notice but assured the court that they would appear on the next adjourned date to take their plea.
However, Chile Okoroma, counsel to EFCC, expressed surprise at the absence of the defendants, stating that the anti-graft agency had already served them with the hearing notice.
The case stems from a 27-count charge of money laundering filed by the EFCC in 2015 against Lamido, his two sons and their companies — Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd.
The commission alleges that Lamido abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015, laundering funds allegedly received as kickbacks from government contracts awarded during his administration in Jigawa State.
During the trial, the EFCC presented over 16 witnesses before closing its case. The defendants later filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not provided enough evidence for them to open their defence.
In November 2022, the trial court dismissed the application and ordered the defendants to enter their defence. However, the Court of Appeal in Abuja in July 2023 ruled that the federal high court lacked jurisdiction and discharged them.
EFCC challenged that decision at the Supreme Court, which in January 2026 overturned the appellate court’s ruling and ordered that the case be returned to the federal high court for continuation of trial, holding that the defendants have a case to answer.
The matter has now been adjourned to April 1 for the defendants to be formally arraigned before the court.
