Victor EzejaFederal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday dismissed the no case submission filed by Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for N712 million fraud.
Lamido allegedly abused his position as governor between 2007 and 2015 by awarding contracts to companies where he had interest, using his two sons as fronts.
According to a statement by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, Ex governor Lamido was arraigned alongside two of his sons – Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido; Aminu Wada Abubakar, and four companies: Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminium Limited, Speeds International Ltd and Batholomew Darlignton Agoha for allegedly defrauding the state.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court who presided the sitting held that the defendants have a case to answer before the court on a 37-count amended charge bordering on abuse of office and money laundering to the tune of N712,008,035 (Seven Hundred and Twelve Million and Eight Thousand and Thirty Five Naira).
Justice Ojukwu upheld the submissions of EFCC’s counsel, Chile Okoroma, that Lamido had a case to answer and ordered him to open his defence at the next adjourned date of the matter.
She adjourned the matter to November 8 to 11, 2022 for the former governor to open his defence.
Lamido and his co-accused were first arraigned before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, sitting in Kano, on July 9, 2015 for allegedly misappropriating funds belonging to Jigawa State.
He had been re-arraigned severally before his further arraignment before Justice Ojukwu on February 14, 2022.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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