EFCC Pushes for Retrial of Sule Lamido Before Former Trial Judge

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reiterated its request for the retrial of former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido and other defendants to be handled by the original trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.

At a hearing on Wednesday before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, EFCC counsel Chile Okoroma, SAN, said the commission was awaiting a response from the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, on its request.

Okoroma explained that the application follows a directive by the Supreme Court of Nigeria ordering a retrial of the case. He noted that the EFCC had formally written to the Chief Judge seeking a fiat to allow Justice Ojukwu, now serving in Calabar, to conclude the matter.

According to the prosecution, the request is necessary given the advanced stage of the trial, during which at least 17 witnesses had already testified before the earlier proceedings were halted.

Defence counsel Joe Agi, SAN, did not oppose the application for adjournment.

Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the case until April 30 for re-arraignment or further proceedings, stating that the decision was in the interest of justice.

The re-arraignment had earlier been stalled on March 13 due to the absence of Lamido and his co-defendants in court.

In January, the Supreme Court ordered a fresh trial after overturning a 2023 ruling by the Court of Appeal, which had struck out the 37-count charge against Lamido and others on jurisdictional grounds. The apex court restored the earlier decision of Justice Ojukwu, which had dismissed the defendants’ no-case submission and directed them to open their defence.

Lamido, who served as governor from 2007 to 2015, is accused by the EFCC of abuse of office and money laundering involving alleged kickbacks from contractors awarded projects by the Jigawa State Government.

Other defendants in the case include his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, as well as Aminu Wada Abubakar and two companies — Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd.