The Supreme Court on Friday ordered the resumption of the trial of former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons over an alleged N1.35 billion money-laundering case.

A five-man panel of the apex court set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal which had earlier upheld the no-case submission filed by Lamido and his co-defendants.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Abubakar Umar nullified the appellate court’s decision of July 25, 2023 and affirmed the earlier ruling of Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had dismissed the defendants’ no-case application and directed them to enter their defence.

Background

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Lamido alongside his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, in 2015 on 37 amended counts bordering on money laundering.

Also joined in the suit are Aminu Abubakar, an associate of the former governor, and four firms – Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminium Limited, Speeds International Limited and Batholomew Darlington Agoha.

The prosecution called 16 witnesses and closed its case in 2022. Instead of opening their defence, the defendants filed a no-case submission, contending that the EFCC had failed to establish a prima facie case against them.

Justice Ojukwu dismissed the application on September 20, 2022 and ordered the defendants to defend the charges.

Dissatisfied, they approached the Court of Appeal, which held that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction on the grounds that the alleged offences were committed in Jigawa State and ought to have been tried there. The appellate court consequently discharged the accused persons.

However, the Supreme Court faulted that position, ruling that the trial court properly assumed jurisdiction and should proceed with the matter.

With the latest judgment, Lamido and the other defendants are expected to return to the Federal High Court to open their defence in the long-running corruption trial.