The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver its judgment on Friday, January 16, 2026, in the ongoing ₦1.35 billion fraud case involving a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and his son, Mustapha Lamido.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed the development on Thursday, stating that the apex court has set the date to rule on the EFCC’s appeal.
The EFCC filed the appeal at the Supreme Court in August 2023, seeking to overturn the July 25, 2023 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which had discharged Sule Lamido and his son, Mustapha, in the fraud case.
The EFCC’s appeal, filed on July 31, 2023, is asking the Supreme Court to set aside the Court of Appeal’s decision and direct that the case be remitted to the trial court for continued proceedings.
“The EFCC contends that the appellate court erred in law by discharging the respondents. Sufficient evidence had been presented to warrant the continuation of the trial,” the commission stated.
The Lamidos, along with Aminu Wada Abubakar and their companies Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited, were initially arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 37-count amended charge.
They faced accusations of money laundering involving the alleged diversion of ₦1.35 billion, which the EFCC claims was launched during Sule Lamido’s tenure as governor from 2007 to 2015. The funds were allegedly kickbacks from companies awarded contracts by the Jigawa State Government.
The trial began in 2015, with the EFCC calling over 16 witnesses to testify. However, instead of opening their defense, the defendants filed a “no-case submission,” arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case.
Justice Ojukwu dismissed this submission, ruling that the defendants had a case to answer and ordering them to proceed with their defence.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Sule Lamido appealed the decision at the Court of Appeal, where he and his son were discharged.