Court to Re-Arraign Ex-Gov Lamido and Sons on April 1

The Federal High Court in Abuja has set April 1 for the re-arraignment of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and his sons, Aminu Mustapha, in a case involving alleged money laundering of N1.35 billion. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed the case, which includes charges against two companies linked to the family, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speed Intern Ltd.

During a previous court session, defense counsel Joe Agi, SAN, apologized for the absence of the defendants, explaining that they could not travel to Abuja on short notice. The EFCC's prosecutor, Chile Okoroma, expressed surprise at the absence despite a hearing notice being served.

The case stems from a 2015 filing of 27 counts against Lamido and his sons, alleging that they received kickbacks from state government contracts during Lamido's governorship from 2007 to 2015. The trial has seen various legal maneuvers, including a previous appeal that was upheld by the Supreme Court on January 16, 2026, restoring the charges against Lamido and his co-defendants.