EFCC will arraign former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido, his sons and two companies on April 1, 2026 over an alleged ₦1.3 billion fraud case following a Supreme Court ruling
EFCC to Arraign Ex-Jigawa Gov Sule Lamido, Sons Over Alleged ₦1.3bn Fraud April 1
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on April 1, 2026, arraign former Sule Lamido, ex-governor of Jigawa State, before the Federal High Court Maitama in Abuja for the commencement of a fresh trial over an alleged ₦1.3 billion fraud.
Lamido will be arraigned alongside his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, as well as two companies linked to them — Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd.
According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged offences involve kickbacks and fictitious contract awards that reportedly took place while Lamido served as governor between 2007 and 2015.
The new arraignment date followed the failure of the defendants to appear in court during the earlier scheduled hearing on March 13, 2026.
Defence counsel Joe Agi, SAN, apologised to the court for the aborted arraignment, explaining that the defendants were unable to attend due to the short notice of the hearing date.
He assured the court that they would be present on the rescheduled date.
However, prosecution counsel Chile Okoroma, SAN, expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of the defendants, insisting that they had been properly served the court documents.
During proceedings, the prosecution also disclosed that it had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, requesting that the original trial judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, who has since been transferred to Calabar, be reassigned to Abuja to continue the case.
Justice Peter Odo Lifu, who is currently presiding over the matter, described the request as an administrative issue that would be determined by the Chief Judge.
He subsequently fixed April 1, 2026 for the fresh arraignment.
The EFCC initially filed charges against Lamido and the other defendants in 2015, accusing them of money laundering, official corruption, and abuse of office involving ₦1.3 billion.
The case, which began before Justice Ojukwu, included a 27-count charge.
During the trial, the prosecution called about 17 witnesses before closing its case.
The defendants later filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to present sufficient evidence to require them to defend themselves.
In November 2022, Justice Ojukwu dismissed the application and ordered them to enter their defence.
Instead of proceeding with their defence, the defendants challenged the ruling at the Court of Appeal Nigeria.
In July 2023, the appellate court upheld the no-case submission and discharged the defendants, ruling that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction, and that the trial should have taken place in Jigawa State where the alleged offences occurred.
However, the EFCC escalated the matter to the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on January 16, 2026, a five-member panel led by Abubakar Umar overturned the Court of Appeal ruling.
The apex court held that the defendants have a case to answer and ordered the matter returned to the Federal High Court for continuation of trial.
The Supreme Court decision effectively revived the corruption case and paved the way for the fresh arraignment of Lamido and the other defendants, nearly a decade after the charges were first filed.
With the new arraignment scheduled for April 1, the long-running case is set to resume at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Read More
