The Supreme Court has ordered the resumption of the corruption trial of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Mustapha and Aminu, over alleged ₦1.35 billion fraud charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel of the apex court, the justices set aside a July 2023 ruling of the Court of Appeal which had discharged and acquitted Lamido and his sons. The Supreme Court held that the EFCC’s appeal had merit and directed that the defendants return to the Federal High Court to open their defence.
Lamido, who served as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015, is accused of laundering ₦1.35 billion allegedly received as kickbacks from contractors handling state government projects. After the prosecution closed its case, the defendants filed a no-case submission, arguing that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
The Federal High Court dismissed the no-case submission, ruling that sufficient evidence had been presented to require the defendants to defend themselves. However, the Court of Appeal overturned that decision and struck out the charges, prompting the EFCC to approach the Supreme Court.
At the apex court, the anti-graft agency argued that the appellate court erred in law by discharging the defendants despite evidence linking them to the alleged offences. Upholding the EFCC’s position, the Supreme Court voided the Appeal Court’s ruling and ordered that the trial be revived.
The court consequently directed Sule Lamido and his sons to return to the Federal High Court for the continuation of their trial and to enter their defence on the corruption charges.
