The apex Court held that the EFCC’s appeal was meritorious and consequently directed that the defendants return to the Federal High Court to enter their defence.
The Supreme Court has ordered the resumption and continuation of the trial of former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Mustapha and Aminu, over alleged ₦1.35 billion corruption charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel led by Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, the apex court voided the July 2023 decision of the Court of Appeal which had discharged and acquitted the former governor and his sons.
The apex Court held that the EFCC’s appeal was meritorious and consequently directed that the defendants return to the Federal High Court to enter their defence.
The EFCC had accused Lamido, who governed Jigawa State from 2007 to 2015, of laundering ₦1.35 billion allegedly received as kickbacks from contractors handling state government projects.
After the anti-graft agency closed its case at the trial court, Lamido and the other defendants filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
However, the Federal High Court dismissed the application, ruling that the EFCC had presented sufficient evidence requiring the defendants to open their defence.
Dissatisfied, the former governor approached the Court of Appeal, which in July 2023 overturned the decision of the trial court and dismissed the charges.
The EFCC subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court, urging it to restore the ruling of the Federal High Court and remit the matter for continuation of trial.
The commission argued that the appellate court erred in law by discharging the defendants despite what it described as overwhelming evidence linking them to the alleged offences.
Upholding the EFCC’s position, the Supreme Court ordered that the charges be resuscitated and directed the Lamidos to return to the Federal High Court to defend themselves against the corruption allegations.