The legal saga surrounding former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido has taken a new turn as the Federal High Court in Abuja scheduled a fresh arraignment for April 1, ENigeria Newspaper has gathered.
Lamido, along with his sons Aminu and Mustapha, will face charges of allegedly laundering N1.35 billion through state contracts, a case that has spanned more than a decade.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also named two family-linked companies, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd, in the arraignment. The court set the new date after the defendants failed to appear for a previous hearing, citing short notice and logistical challenges.
Lamido’s legal team, led by Joe Agi (SAN), assured the court they would present the former governor and his sons on the adjourned date. EFCC counsel Chile Okoroma (SAN) expressed surprise at their absence, noting that the agency had formally served notice.
Recall that ENigeria Newspaper reported that the case, first filed in 2015, alleges that Lamido and his co-defendants laundered billions through kickbacks tied to state contracts during his tenure from 2007 to 2015. The trial has faced multiple legal hurdles, including a no-case submission, an appellate court ruling citing lack of jurisdiction, and an EFCC appeal to the Supreme Court.
In July of 2023, the appellate court maintained the no-case submission, concluding that the alleged offenses took place in Jigawa State and that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked geographical authority to hear the case. The ruling was later challenged to the Supreme Court by the EFCC.
On January 16, 2026, the Supreme Court overturned the appellate court’s decision, reinstating the charges and ordering the Federal High Court to continue the trial. Justice Abubakar Umar, delivering the judgment, emphasized that the defendants have a case to answer, reigniting one of Nigeria’s high-profile anti-corruption proceedings.
