EFCC Demands Original Judge for Sule Lamido's Retrial in Corruption Case
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has firmly insisted that the retrial of former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, his sons, and other defendants must be conducted by the original trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu. This position was articulated by EFCC counsel Chile Okoroma during a recent court session before Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja, where the commission awaits a response from Chief Judge John Tsoho regarding its formal request.
Legal Proceedings and Supreme Court Directive
Okoroma explained that the EFCC's application follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which ordered a retrial of the case. The commission is seeking a fiat to allow Justice Ojukwu, who has since been posted to the Calabar division, to return and conclude the proceedings. "We wrote a letter to the chief judge explaining why the order of the Supreme Court must be obeyed," Okoroma stated, emphasizing the necessity of judicial continuity.
He further highlighted that the prosecution had already called at least 17 witnesses before the earlier proceedings were halted, making it crucial for the same judge to continue the matter to ensure consistency and efficiency. Subsequently, Okoroma applied for an adjournment pending the Chief Judge's decision, a request that was not opposed by the defendants' counsel, Joe Agi.
Case Adjournment and Background
Justice Lifu adjourned the case to April 30 for re-arraignment or further proceedings, stating, "In the circumstances of this case and in the interest of justice, the case is adjourned for re-arraignment and/or further proceedings." This retrial stems from a January 16 ruling by the Supreme Court, which set aside an earlier judgement of the Court of Appeal that had dismissed the charges against Lamido and others on jurisdictional grounds.
The apex court reinstated the decision of Justice Ojukwu, who had previously overruled the defendants' no-case submission and ordered them to open their defence. Lamido is facing a 37-count charge related to alleged abuse of office and money laundering during his tenure as governor from 2007 to 2015. The EFCC alleges that he received kickbacks from contractors and laundered the funds, with involvement from his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, as well as Aminu Wada Abubakar and their associated companies.
The case underscores ongoing efforts to address corruption in Nigeria's political sphere, with the EFCC pushing for judicial integrity and adherence to legal processes. The outcome of the Chief Judge's response and the subsequent retrial will be closely watched as a test of the country's anti-corruption framework and judicial system.
