The Supreme Court has ordered the continuation of the ₦1.35 billion corruption trial of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, his two sons Mustapha and Aminu, and their companies.
In a unanimous ruling delivered Friday by Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, a five‑man panel voided the July 2023 Court of Appeal judgment that had discharged Lamido. The apex court held that the EFCC’s appeal was meritorious.
The court directed Lamido and his co‑defendants to return to the Federal High Court to defend themselves against the EFCC’s allegations.
Lamido, his sons, and their firms — Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited — were arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on a 37‑count charge, including money laundering and abuse of office.
The EFCC alleges Lamido laundered ₦1.35 billion in kickbacks from contractors during his tenure as governor from 2007 to 2015.
After the prosecution closed its case, the defendants filed a no‑case submission, which the Federal High Court dismissed, ruling that sufficient evidence required them to enter a defence.
The Court of Appeal later disagreed, discharging the defendants. But the Supreme Court has now reinstated the charges, ordering Lamido and his sons to face trial.
Godfrey Eshiemogie
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