Alleged N1.35bn Fraud: Supreme Court to decide fate of ex-Jigawa Gov Sule Lamido, sons on Friday
•Former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido
The Supreme Court is set to determine the fate of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and one of his sons on Friday, January 16, 2025, in the long-running ₦1.35 billion fraud case that has kept the former governor in the legal spotlight for years.
The apex court’s decision is expected to mark a critical turning point in the case, which has passed through several stages of trial and appeal since it was first instituted by anti-graft authorities.
The matter remains one of the most closely watched corruption cases involving a former state chief executive.
Lamido is currently battling money laundering charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside his sons, Aminu Sule Lamido and Mustapha Sule Lamido. The commission is prosecuting them on an amended 43-count charge bordering on the alleged diversion of public funds.
Details of how the funds were allegedly laundered were disclosed by the EFCC in a post on its official X handle on Thursday.
According to the anti-graft agency, a prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas, an EFCC officer, had earlier told the Federal High Court in Abuja how funds meant for Jigawa State projects were allegedly transferred through bank cheques and electronic payments before ending up in private accounts linked to the former governor.
Wetkas reportedly explained that several payments, including ₦1,356,223,854.28 and ₦583,785,811.14 made in December 2012 and December 2009 respectively, were initially paid to Dantata and Sawoe for project execution but were later traced to accounts allegedly belonging to Lamido. Other transactions cited include payments of ₦206,463,210.14 and ₦6,288,947.17 made in February 2013.
The EFCC further stated that two cheques valued at ₦14,079,595 and ₦10,377,310, issued on April 18, 2008, were transferred to Speeds International, a company in which Lamido is said to be a signatory. The cheques were tendered as exhibits during the trial.
Although the defence objected to the admissibility of the cheques, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court ruled in favour of the prosecution, affirming that investigators are entitled to present exhibits obtained during investigations.
As the Supreme Court prepares to deliver its ruling on Friday, the outcome is expected to have far-reaching implications for the former governor and the broader anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria.
