The Supreme Court is set to deliver its judgement on Friday, January 16, 2026, in the high-profile ₦1.35 billion fraud case involving former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and his sons, Mustapha and Aminu Lamido.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced the development on Thursday via social media, stating that the apex court will hear its appeal against the July 25, 2023 ruling by the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which had discharged the Lamidos of all charges.

Dissatisfied with the appellate court’s decision, the EFCC filed an appeal at the Supreme Court on July 31, 2023, seeking to overturn the judgement and remit the matter to the trial court for continuation.

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The agency argued that the Court of Appeal erred by discharging the defendants despite “sufficient evidence establishing a prima facie case” against them.

Lamido, his sons, Aminu Wada Abubakar, and their companies—Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited—were arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a 37-count amended charge, including money laundering and abuse of office.

The EFCC alleged that Lamido, who governed Jigawa from 2007 to 2015, laundered ₦1.35 billion in kickbacks from contractors handling state government projects.

The trial, which began in 2015, saw the EFCC call more than 16 witnesses before closing its case.

Instead of presenting a defence, the defendants filed a no-case submission, claiming the prosecution failed to prove wrongdoing.

Justice Ojukwu dismissed the submission, ruling that the defendants had a case to answer.

The Lamidos then challenged this ruling at the Court of Appeal, which ultimately discharged them, prompting the EFCC’s Supreme Court appeal.

This judgement will mark a key moment in one of Nigeria’s longest-running political and financial crime trials.

LUKMAN ABDULMALIK
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