• Appeal Court judgment that freed Lamido has been overturned
• ₦1.35bn corruption charges reinstated
• Mustapha and Aminu to return to trial
• Case resumes at the Federal High Court

The Supreme Court has ordered the continuation of the ₦1.35 billion corruption trial of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, effectively reopening the long-running case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against him, his two sons, and their companies.

In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, set aside the July 2023 judgment of the Court of Appeal which had earlier discharged Sule Lamido from the corruption charges.

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The apex court ruled that the appeal filed by the EFCC had merit and faulted the appellate court for stopping the trial prematurely.

As a result, the court directed Lamido, alongside his sons Mustapha Lamido and Aminu Lamido, to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja to continue their defence in the ₦1.35bn corruption case.

Lamido and his co-defendants; Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited are facing a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office, and illicit financial transactions.

According to the EFCC, the former governor allegedly laundered ₦1.35 billion in kickbacks received from contractors while serving as Jigawa State governor between 2007 and 2015.

After the prosecution closed its case, the defendants filed a no-case submission, arguing that the EFCC failed to establish a prima facie case against them. However, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, dismissed the application and ordered them to open their defence.

The Court of Appeal later overturned that ruling and discharged the defendants, a decision now nullified by the Supreme Court.

“The appeal is meritorious and is hereby allowed,” Justice Umar ruled, adding that the defendants must face trial and respond to the allegations against them.

The case will now resume at the Federal High Court, where Lamido and his sons are expected to defend themselves fully.