Alleged N1.35 Billion Fraud: Lamido’s Trial Set to Proceed, Supreme Court Rules

The trial of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, his two sons, and other defendants in connection with an alleged ₦1.35 billion fraud will continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to a ruling by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

In two unanimous rulings rendered on Friday in the appeals submitted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on behalf of the Federal Government, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court issued the direction.

On the grounds that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, the appeals contested the July 25, 2023, rulings of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which had supported Lamido and the other defendants’ no-case submissions and dismissed the 37-count indictment.

In the lead rulings, Justice Abubakar Umar upheld the earlier decision of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and overturned the Appeal Court’s decision.

According to Justice Umar, the trial court was correct to force the defendants to present their defense and to reject the no-case arguments.

The EFCC claims that between 2007 and 2015, Lamido misused his position as governor by allegedly laundering money obtained as kickbacks from businesses that the Jigawa State Government had given contracts to.

In the 37-count accusation, the anti-graft agency accused the former governor and his co-defendants of several crimes that bordered on money laundering.

Lamido’s two sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido, Aminu Wada Abubakar, and two businesses, Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited, are also charged alongside Lamido.