The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Mustapha and Aminu, to resume trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged N1.35 billion fraud.
The ruling was delivered on Friday, January 16, 2026, by a five-member panel of the apex court in two unanimous judgments arising from appeals filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The court directed Lamido, his sons, and other defendants to enter their defence in the ongoing case.
The EFCC had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the July 25, 2023 judgments of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which upheld a no-case submission filed by the defendants. In that ruling, the appellate court struck out the 43-count amended charge against Lamido and others, holding that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter.
However, the Supreme Court disagreed with the Court of Appeal’s position and consequently restored the charges, ordering the continuation of trial at the Federal High Court.
According to the charge sheet, the EFCC accused Lamido of several counts of money laundering while serving as governor of Jigawa State. One of the counts alleged that on or about December 15, 2008, Lamido converted the sum of N14.85 million through an account linked to Bamaina Holdings, funds said to be proceeds of illegal gratification obtained through contracts allegedly awarded to companies in which he had interests. The offence was said to be contrary to provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.
Another count accused him of converting N14.99 million on or about April 21, 2009, also through Bamaina Holdings, allegedly representing proceeds of unlawful gratification linked to contracts awarded by the Jigawa State Government.
In a separate count, the EFCC alleged that Sule Lamido, alongside his sons Aminu and Mustapha, and Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, unlawfully retained N48 million in an account with Skye Bank Plc in February 2012. The funds were said to be proceeds of gratification received in connection with a contract awarded by the Jigawa State Government, an offence allegedly contrary to the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
With the Supreme Court’s ruling, the case is set to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the defendants are expected to open their defence as the trial continues.
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