Sule Lamido's N1.3 Billion Fraud Arraignment Stalls Again in Abuja Court
The scheduled arraignment of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, at the Federal High Court in Abuja has been postponed once more. This marks the second time the proceedings have been delayed in recent weeks, creating further uncertainty around the high-profile corruption case involving alleged N1.3 billion fraud.
Court Proceedings Halted by EFCC Objection
Despite the presence of all accused persons in court yesterday, the arraignment could not proceed after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raised a formal objection. Chile Okoroma, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the EFCC, argued that proceeding with a fresh arraignment would violate a Supreme Court order issued on January 16, 2026.
The Supreme Court had previously ruled that Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, who began hearing the case in 2015 before being transferred to the Calabar division, should complete the trial. Okoroma informed Justice Peter Lifu that the EFCC had written to Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho requesting a fiat to bring Justice Ojukwu back from Calabar to Abuja to resume proceedings as mandated by the higher court.
Previous Delays and Current Status
This latest postponement follows an earlier failed arraignment on March 13, which was aborted due to the absence of all defendants. That absence was attributed to late service of trial notices. In contrast, yesterday's proceedings saw Lamido and his sons present in the dock, ready for their plea to be taken before the EFCC intervention.
"I would not want the time of the court to be wasted on the fresh arraignment," Okoroma stated while pleading for an adjournment to await the Chief Judge's response to their request. Chief Joe Agi (SAN), representing the accused persons, raised no objection to this proposal.
Case Background and Allegations
The corruption charges center on allegations that Lamido and his sons committed fraud through fictitious contract awards during his tenure as governor. The case has been ongoing since 2015, with multiple procedural delays extending the legal process over several years.
Justice Lifu has now adjourned the matter to April 30, 2026, to allow time for the Chief Judge to respond to the EFCC's request regarding Justice Ojukwu's return. This development continues the pattern of delays that has characterized this high-profile anti-corruption case from its inception.
