The {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) will on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, arraign the previous Governor of Jigawa state, Sule Lamido, earlier than Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal Excessive Court docket, Maitama, Abuja, for the graduation of contemporary trial for alleged N1.3 billion fraud.
A press assertion by the EFCC Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, Friday in Abuja, mentioned Lamido will probably be arraigned alongside his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, in addition to their two corporations, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds Worldwide Ltd. He, and his sons dedicated the alleged fraud by acceptance of kick-backs and fictitious contract awards, whereas the primary defendant was governor from 2007-2015.
He mentioned, “The brand new arraignment date adopted the failure of the defendants to current themselves in courtroom on the preliminary arraignment date of Friday, March 13, 2026.”
Oyewale famous that Defence Counsel, Joe Agi (SAN), who apologised for the aborted arraignment, claimed that the absence of the defendants was on account of the arraignment date that obtained to them at a brief discover.
He promised to make them obtainable on the April 1 adjourned date.
In the meantime, Prosecution Counsel, Chile Okoroma (SAN), expressed dismay on the absence of the defendants in courtroom, stating that they have been correctly served the arraignment discover and in good time.
He disclosed that the prosecution wrote to the Chief Decide of the Federal Excessive Court docket, Justice John Tsoho, demanding that the preliminary trial choose, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, now on switch to Calabar, Cross River state be introduced again to Abuja for the trial of the defendants.
Justice Lifu acknowledged that the request of the prosecution was an administrative problem that will be decided by the Chief Decide and went forward fastened April 1 for the brand new arraignment date.
The EFCC in 2015 charged the defendants earlier than Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of Federal Excessive Court docket, Abuja on 27-count cost, bordering on cash laundering, official corruption and abuse of workplace to the tune of N1.3 billion.
The defendants filed a no‑case submission, after the prosecution had known as about 17 witnesses and closed its case, arguing that the prosecution had not introduced enough proof to require them to defend themselves. Nonetheless, in November 2022, Justice Ojukwu dismissed the no-case submission and ordered them to enter their defence.
Quite than accomplish that, the defendants appealed the ruling and in July 2023, the Court docket of Attraction upheld their no‑case submission and discharged them.
The appellate courtroom additional held that the Abuja Federal Excessive Court docket lacked the jurisdiction to listen to the matter, stating that the trial ought to have been performed in Jigawa State, the place the alleged offences occurred.
In August 2023, EFCC proceeded to the Supreme Court docket, asking the Apex Court docket to overturn the ruling of the Court docket of Attraction.
The Supreme Court docket in a unanimous judgment of a 5‑member panel, delivered by Justice Abubakar Umar, in January 16, 2026, put aside the ruling of the Attraction Court docket and held that the defendants have a case to reply. It additional ordered that the matter be returned to the Federal Excessive Court docket for continuation of trial, thus setting the stage for a contemporary arraignment of the defendants.