Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and his two sons will be re-arraigned at the Federal High Court in Abuja on April 1, 2026, for a fresh trial over allegations of N1.35 billion fraud brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The former governor will be re-arraigned alongside his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, as ordered by the Supreme Court, to answer the charges.
The trial judge, Peter Lifu, fixed the new date on Friday after the defendants were absent during the previously scheduled arraignment.
During the hearing, defence counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Agi, apologised to the court for his clients’ absence.
He explained that Lamido and his sons were only notified about the sitting on Thursday evening. Agi told the court that the defendants, who reside in Kano, could not travel to Abuja on such short notice but assured the court that they would attend the next hearing to formally take their plea.
However, prosecution counsel Chile Okoroma expressed surprise at the development, stating that the EFCC had duly served the defendants with the hearing notice.
Okoroma further informed the court that the EFCC had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, requesting that the former trial judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu—who was transferred to Calabar—be reassigned to Abuja to continue handling the case.
Responding, Justice Lifu said the request was an administrative matter for the Chief Judge to decide before adjourning the case to April 1.
The EFCC initially filed the case in 2015, accusing Lamido, his sons, and two companies—Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited—of laundering about N1.35 billion.
According to the anti-corruption agency, the funds were allegedly diverted between 2007 and 2015 through kickbacks linked to contracts awarded by the Jigawa State Government while Lamido was governor.
During the trial, the EFCC presented more than 16 witnesses before closing its case.
The defendants later filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not produced sufficient evidence to require them to open their defence.
In November 2022, Justice Ojukwu dismissed the application and directed the defendants to proceed with their defence.
However, in July 2023, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Abuja division of the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter and consequently discharged the defendants.
The EFCC subsequently challenged the judgment at the Supreme Court.
In January 2026, the apex court overturned the appellate court’s ruling and ordered that the case return to the Federal High Court for continuation, holding that Lamido and the other defendants had a case to answer.
