Dare Babalola
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the retrial of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, alongside his sons and other co-defendants, in line with a directive of the Supreme Court.
At proceedings before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, EFCC counsel, Chile Okoroma, informed the court that the commission is awaiting a response from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, regarding its request for a fiat to enable the former trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, to conclude the matter.
Okoroma explained that the application followed a Supreme Court order mandating a retrial and emphasized that the prosecution had already made significant progress in the case, including calling at least 17 witnesses.
He noted that a formal letter had been written to the Chief Judge stressing the need to comply with the apex court’s ruling and requesting that Justice Ojukwu, now serving in the Calabar division, be allowed to continue with the trial.
He subsequently sought an adjournment to allow time for the Chief Judge’s response. Defence counsel, Joe Agi, did not oppose the application.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until April 30 for re-arraignment or further proceedings, stating that the decision was taken in the interest of justice.
The case had earlier been scheduled for re-arraignment on March 13 but was stalled due to the absence of Lamido and his co-defendants in court.
It would be recalled that on January 16, the Supreme Court ordered a retrial of the defendants, overturning earlier judgments by the Court of Appeal delivered on July 25, 2023.
The appellate court had upheld a no-case submission by Lamido and others, striking out the 37-count charge on the grounds that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction.
However, in a unanimous decision delivered by a five-member panel, the apex court set aside the appellate court’s ruling. In the lead judgment, Justice Abubakar Umar upheld the earlier decision of Justice Ojukwu, which dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission and directed them to open their defence.
The EFCC’s charges accuse Lamido, who served as governor between 2007 and 2015, of abusing his office and laundering funds allegedly received as kickbacks from contractors awarded projects by the Jigawa State Government.
Also named in the charge are his sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido, Aminu Wada Abubakar, and two companies—Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd.
