The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled April 1 for the fresh arraignment of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, over a N1.35 billion corruption charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Peter Lifu fixed the new date following the absence of Lamido and his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, in court to take their plea. The three are accused of allegedly participating in a fraud involving fictitious contract awards.
The arraignment had initially been set for Friday, but Lamido’s lawyer, Joe Agi SAN, apologized for their absence, explaining that they were only notified of the trial on Thursday evening. Agi said the former governor and his sons, who reside in Kano, could not travel to Abuja on such short notice.
EFCC counsel Chile Okoroma SAN expressed surprise at their absence, noting that the defendants had been served with the trial notice. He also revealed that the commission had written to the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, requesting that the initial trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, now on transfer to Calabar, be brought back to Abuja to preside over the case.
Justice Lifu described the matter regarding the EFCC letter as administrative and subject to determination by the Chief Judge but confirmed April 1 as the new date for arraignment.
Lamido, his sons, and their companies were first charged in 2015 before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 27 counts of money laundering, allegedly involving N1.35 billion siphoned from Jigawa State through a money laundering scheme.
