<h4>Former Governor Sule Lamido,</h4>
<h4></h4>
<p><strong><a href="https://openlife.ng/">OpenLife Nigeria</a></strong> reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC will on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, arraign the former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido before Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, for the commencement of his fresh trial for alleged N1.3 billion fraud.<br />
Lamido will be arraigned alongside his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, as well as their two companies, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd. He, and his sons committed the alleged fraud through acceptance of kick-backs and fictitious contract awards, while the first defendant was governor from 2007-2015.<br />
The new arraignment date followed the failure of the defendants to present themselves in court on the initial arraignment date of Friday, March 13, 2026.<br />
Defence counsel, Joe Agi, SAN, who apologised for the aborted arraignment claimed that the absence of the defendants was as a result of the arraignment date that got to them at a short notice. He promised to make them available on the April 1 adjourned date.<br />
Meanwhile, prosecution counsel, Chile Okoroma, SAN, expressed dismay at the absence of the defendants in court, stating that they were properly served the arraignment notice and in good time.<br />
He disclosed that the prosecution wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, demanding that the initial trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, now on transfer to Calabar, Cross River State be brought back to Abuja for the trial of the defendants. Justice Lifu stated that the request of the prosecution was an administrative issue that would be determined by the Chief Judge and went ahead fixed April 1 for the new arraignment date.<br />
The EFCC in 2015 charged the defendants before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of Federal High Court, Abuja on 27-count charge, bordering on money laundering, official corruption and abuse of office to the tune of N1.3 billion.<br />
The defendants filed a no case submission, after the prosecution had called about 17 witnesses and closed its case, arguing that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to require them to defend themselves. However, in November 2022, <a href="https://www.vanguardngr.com/">Justice Ojukwu</a> dismissed the no-case submission and ordered them to enter their defence.<br />
Rather than do so, the defendants appealed the ruling and in July 2023, the Court of Appeal upheld their no case submission and discharged them. The appellate court further held that the Abuja Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter, stating that the trial should have been conducted in Jigawa State, where the alleged offences occurred.<br />
In August 2023, EFCC proceeded to the Supreme Court, asking the Apex Court to overturn the ruling of the Court of Appeal.<br />
The Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment of a five member panel, delivered by Justice Abubakar Umar, in January 16, 2026, set aside the ruling of the Appeal Court and held that the defendants have a case to answer. It further ordered that the matter be returned to the Federal High Court for continuation of trial, thus setting the stage for a fresh arraignment of the defendants.</p>

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