The long-running money laundering case involving former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons will resume at the Federal High Court in Abuja on April 1 following fresh directives from the Supreme Court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is expected to formally re-arraign Lamido alongside his sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, in connection with the alleged money laundering case involving about N1.35 billion.
Two companies linked to the family—Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd—are also listed as defendants in the matter.
The new arraignment date was fixed by Justice Peter Lifu after the defendants failed to appear in court during the last hearing.
Their absence prevented the court from taking their plea, forcing the judge to postpone proceedings.
During the session, defence lawyer Joe Agi (SAN) apologised to the court and explained the circumstances surrounding the absence of the defendants.
According to him, the notice of the court sitting was delivered to the defence team late on Thursday evening, leaving little time for Lamido and his sons to travel to Abuja from Kano where they currently reside.
Agi assured the court that the defendants would appear on the next adjourned date to respond to the charges and participate in the ongoing money laundering case.
However, the EFCC’s counsel, Chile Okoroma (SAN), expressed concern over the absence of the defendants despite having been served with the hearing notice.
The prosecutor maintained that the anti-graft agency was prepared to proceed with the trial and expected the defendants to honour the court process.
Okoroma also informed the court that the EFCC had formally written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requesting administrative approval to return the initial trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, to Abuja to continue handling the money laundering case.
Justice Ojukwu had earlier presided over the matter before being transferred to Calabar.
In response, Justice Lifu clarified that the request made by the EFCC was strictly administrative and could only be determined by the Chief Judge.
He therefore declined to make any ruling on the issue and proceeded to adjourn the matter until April 1 for the re-arraignment of the defendants.
The case itself dates back more than a decade. In 2015, the EFCC filed a 27-count charge against Lamido, his sons and the two companies.
Prosecutors alleged that the defendants were involved in laundering approximately N1.35 billion believed to have been obtained as kickbacks from contractors who executed projects for the Jigawa State Government during Lamido’s tenure as governor between 2007 and 2015.
During the trial, the prosecution presented more than sixteen witnesses to support its claims before closing its case.
Afterward, the defence team filed a no-case submission, arguing that the evidence presented by the EFCC did not establish sufficient grounds for the defendants to open their defence in the money laundering case.
In November 2022, Justice Ojukwu dismissed the application and ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case.
She subsequently ordered Lamido and the other defendants to begin their defence.
The ruling was challenged at the Court of Appeal by the defendants.
In July 2023, the appellate court sided with them and ruled that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked territorial jurisdiction to handle the money laundering case, noting that the alleged offences took place in Jigawa State.
Dissatisfied with that decision, the EFCC escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.
On January 16, 2026, the apex court overturned the judgment of the Court of Appeal and reinstated the charges against Lamido and the other defendants.
Delivering the unanimous decision, Justice Abubakar Umar stated that the defendants had questions to answer regarding the allegations brought against them.
The five-member panel therefore ordered that the case be returned to the Federal High Court in Abuja for continuation of the trial.
With the Supreme Court’s directive now in effect, attention has shifted back to the Federal High Court where the next phase of the money laundering case is expected to begin with the formal re-arraignment of Lamido, his sons and the companies involved.
Ireport247news
