Supreme Court okays Sule Lamido, sons, others’ trial in Abuja for alleged N1.35bn fraud

The Supreme Court has ordered that the trial of former Jigawa Governor, Sule Lamido, his two sons and others, over alleged N1.35billion fraud, should continue before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

A five-member panel of the apex court issued the directive in two unanimous judgments delivered on Friday in the two appeals filed in the name of the Federal Government by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Both appeals were against the July 25, 2023 judgments by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld the no-case submission made by Lamido and others and struck out the 37-count charge on which they were being prosecuted, on the grounds that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

In the lead judgments of the Supreme Court, Justice Abubakar Umar set aside the July 25, 2023 judgments of the Court of Appeal and affirmed the earlier decision by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja which overruled the no-case submissions by Lamido and others and ordered to enter their defence.

The EFCC, in the 37-count charge, among others, accused  Lamido of abusing his position as governor between 2007 and 2015, allegedly laundering sums of money received as kickbacks from companies that were awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government under his leadership.

The other defendants charged alongside Lamido are: his two sons – Aminu and Mustapha; Aminu Wada Abubakar and their companies – Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd.

Details shortly.