A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled April 1 for the fresh arraignment of former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, over an alleged N1.35 billion fraud case.
Lamido is expected to appear before the court alongside his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, in a case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Peter Lifu fixed the new date on Friday after the defendants failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment.
Counsel to the defendants, Joe Agi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), apologised to the court for their absence. He explained that Lamido and his sons received information about the court sitting only on Thursday evening.
Agi stated that the defendants live in Kano and could not travel to Abuja at such short notice. He, however, assured the court that they would be present on the next adjourned date to enter their plea.
However, counsel to the EFCC, Chile Okoroma, told the court that the anti-graft agency was surprised by the absence of the defendants despite the fact that they had been served with the hearing notice.
Okoroma also informed the court that the commission had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho. The letter requested that Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, the former trial judge who was transferred to Calabar, be brought back to Abuja to continue handling the matter.
Justice Lifu said the request is an administrative issue that the chief judge must determine. He then adjourned the case until April 1.
The EFCC first filed a 27-count charge against Lamido, his two sons, and their companies, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd, in 2015. The charges relate to alleged money laundering involving about N1.35 billion.
According to the anti-graft agency, Lamido abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015. The commission alleged that he laundered funds obtained as kickbacks from state government contracts.
During the earlier trial proceedings, the EFCC presented more than 16 witnesses before closing its case.
The defendants later filed a no-case submission. They argued that the prosecution failed to present enough evidence to require them to open their defence.
In November 2022, Justice Ojukwu dismissed the application and directed the defendants to enter their defence.
However, the Court of Appeal in July 2023 ruled that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked jurisdiction over the matter. The appellate court therefore discharged the defendants.
The EFCC challenged that ruling at the Supreme Court.
In January 2026, the Supreme Court set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal. The apex court ordered that the case should return to the Federal High Court for continuation of the trial, stating that the defendants have a case to answer.
