Alleged N1.35bn Fraud: Absence of Defence Counsel Again Stalls Lamido, Sons’ Trial

The trial of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, was again stalled on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, following the absence of their lead defence counsel, Joe Agi, SAN.

The case, which is before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, involves a 37 count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, bordering on alleged money laundering, kickbacks, and fictitious contract awards amounting to N1.35 billion.

The alleged offences were reportedly committed while Sule Lamido served as Governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, defence counsel, O.F. Ekegba, told the court that the lead counsel had travelled to Germany to meet with a witness and had taken the case documents with him. He assured the court that the defence would conclude its case within two to three days if given a date in September.

The prosecution counsel, Chile Okoroma, SAN, said the prosecution had been served with an affidavit of facts and agreed to the adjournment based on the defence’s undertaking to conclude its case within the proposed timeframe.

After listening to both parties, Justice Ojukwu adjourned the case to a date in September 2026, to be communicated to the parties, for continuation of trial.