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Witness Testimony Connects Former Governor Lamido And Sons To Illegal Transfer Of Funds

October 22, 2015

The trial of the former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Aminu Sule Lamido and Mustapha Sule Lamido, began today.  The accused were charged with 27 counts of corruption, money laundering, and the illegal diversion of funds understood to have totaled N1.35 billion.

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It will be recalled that SaharaReporters previously reported on the July 9th arraignment of Mr. Lamido and his two sons.  Their cases were adjourned until September 22nd.  

On September 22nd, SaharaReporters published a report detailing the re-arraignment of the accused by the EFCC due to the addition of a Mr. Agoha, the manager of Speeds International Limited, to the list of accused.

In an effort to strengthen its case the EFCC submitted the details of several bank accounts allegedly used by the suspects to siphon off public funds to the Federal High Court in Abuja.  The EFCC presented four witnesses Longji Tupkop, Kabir Mashi, Mustapha Baba, and Onyiche Agbaghara. These witnesses were brought by the EFCC because of their specific knowledge of bank accounts connected to the embattled former Governor Sule Lamido and his two sons.

Mr. Tupkop, a Relationship Manager at United Bank of Africa, highlighted the clearing of several checks by companies the EFCC alleged are owned by former Governor Lamido.  While Mr. Mashi, a Regional Manager at Unity Bank Plc, Kano North, under pressure from the prosecution counsel, presented documents pertaining to the opening of several accounts at his bank belonging to these same companies.  Finally, Mr. Agbaghara, an employee of Keystone Bank, detailed the opening of several more company accounts at his bank.

At the conclusion of the witness’ testimonies, Justice Adeniyi Ademola, who was presiding over the case, adjourned the case until November 24th and 25th.