Hot Update: Supreme Court Says Lamido Must Face ₦1.35B Fraud Charges

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered that the trial of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, his two sons, and other defendants over an alleged ₦1.35 billion fraud should continue at the Federal High Court, Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

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

The appeals challenged the July 25, 2023, ruling of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which had upheld Lamido and the other defendants’ no-case submissions and struck out the 37-count charge, citing a lack of jurisdiction by the Federal High Court.

In the lead judgment, Justice Abubakar Umar overturned the Court of Appeal’s decision and reaffirmed the earlier ruling of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, which had overruled the no-case submissions and directed the defendants to open their defence.

According to the EFCC, Lamido allegedly abused his office as governor between 2007 and 2015, laundering funds received as kickbacks from companies awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government during his tenure.

The anti-graft agency accused the former governor and his co-defendants of multiple offences related to money laundering under the 37-count charge. Those facing trial alongside Lamido include his sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido, Aminu Wada Abubakar, and two companies, Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited.