The trial of former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido and his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, was again stalled on Tuesday at the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, following the absence of their lead defence counsel, Joe Agi, SAN.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the defendants on a 37-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, kickbacks, and fictitious contract awards amounting to N1.35 billion, allegedly committed when Sule Lamido served as Jigawa State governor between 2007 and 2015.
The matter, before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, had been slated for continuation of trial. However, defence counsel, O.F. Ekegba, informed the court that he had deposed to an affidavit of facts stating that the lead counsel had travelled to Germany to meet a witness, taking case documents along with him.
EFCC’s Head of Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed in a statement on Tuesday that Ekegba undertook that the defence would close its case within three days if granted a new date in September.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Chile Okoroma, SAN, said he had only been served the affidavit of facts that morning in court, but noted that Ekegba had assured him the defence would conclude its case within two to three days in September and that the case file was with the lead counsel. On that basis, Okoroma said he would concede to the adjournment.
Justice Ojukwu, after listening to both parties, adjourned the matter to a later date in September 2026, to be communicated to the parties, for continuation of trial.
