The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reiterated its demand for the retrial of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, alongside his sons and other co-defendants, insisting that the case be reassigned to the former trial judge in line with a Supreme Court directive.
The position was maintained on Wednesday by EFCC counsel, Chile Okoroma, SAN, during proceedings before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the matter was slated for re-arraignment.
Okoroma informed the court that the anti-graft agency was still awaiting a response from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, following a formal request seeking approval for Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, the former trial judge, to continue hearing the case from her current division in Calabar.
He explained that the application was consistent with the directive of the Supreme Court, which had ordered a retrial of the defendants, and emphasized that the request to the Chief Judge was necessary to ensure proper judicial procedure and compliance with the apex court’s ruling.
“On the last adjourned date, the court was informed about a letter written to the Chief Judge seeking a fiat for Justice Ojukwu to conclude the matter as directed by the apex court,” Okoroma said, adding that the prosecution had already made significant progress in the case, having called at least 17 witnesses.
He noted that the EFCC had written to the Chief Judge to ensure that the Supreme Court’s order was duly implemented, while requesting an adjournment to await an official response.
Counsel to the defendants, Joe Agi, SAN, did not oppose the EFCC’s application for adjournment, effectively allowing the court to grant the request without objection.
Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter until April 30, 2026, for re-arraignment or further proceedings, stating that the adjournment was necessary in the interest of justice.
“In the interest of justice, the case is adjourned for re-arraignment and/or further proceedings,” the judge ruled.
The case, which has been ongoing for several years, has seen multiple adjournments, including a stalled re-arraignment on March 13, which could not proceed due to the absence of the defendants in court.
The legal dispute dates back to a Supreme Court ruling delivered on January 16, 2026, in which a five-member panel ordered a retrial of Sule Lamido and his co-defendants. The apex court’s decision followed appeals filed by the Federal Government through the EFCC, challenging earlier rulings that had struck out the charges.
The Supreme Court had overturned a July 25, 2023 judgment of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld a no-case submission filed by the defendants and dismissed the 37-count charge on grounds that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.
In its lead judgment, the Supreme Court reinstated the earlier ruling of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, which had dismissed the no-case submission and ordered the defendants to open their defence, thereby paving the way for the continuation of the trial.
The EFCC’s 37-count charge against Lamido and others alleges that the former governor abused his office between 2007 and 2015, using his position to allegedly facilitate financial transactions involving kickbacks from companies awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government.
The prosecution further alleged that funds received through these transactions were laundered, with the case also implicating Lamido’s two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, along with Aminu Wada Abubakar and corporate entities identified as Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd.
As the matter now awaits further judicial direction, all eyes remain on the Federal High Court and the Office of the Chief Judge, whose decision will determine whether the trial proceeds under Justice Ojukwu or continues under a new judicial arrangement.
Discussion about this post