The Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja has fixed April 1, 2026, for the fresh arraignment of former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido and his two sons over an alleged ₦1.35 billion corruption charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Justice Peter Lifu adjourned the matter after the former governor and his sons failed to appear in court to take their plea.
Lamido is expected to be arraigned alongside his sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido.
Read Also: Roles of ICPC, EFCC and DSS in Nigeria’s Security System
They are accused of allegedly participating in a money laundering scheme involving fictitious contract awards.
The defendants’ counsel, Joe Agi (SAN), apologised for their absence.
He told the court that information about the trial reached them on Thursday evening.
According to him, Lamido and his sons reside in Kano and could not travel to Abuja on short notice.
Counsel to the EFCC, Chile Okoroma (SAN), said he was surprised that the defendants were not present in court despite being served with the hearing notice.
Okoroma also disclosed that the commission had written to the Chief Judge of the court, John Tsoho.
The letter requested that the original trial judge, Ijeoma Ojukwu, currently posted to Calabar, be returned to Abuja to handle the case.
Justice Lifu stated that the EFCC’s request is an administrative matter for the Chief Judge to decide.
He subsequently fixed April 1, 2026, for the arraignment.
The EFCC had earlier filed 27 counts of money laundering against Lamido, his sons and their companies in 2015.
The charges relate to the alleged diversion of ₦1.35 billion from Jigawa State through a money laundering scheme.
