Again, court adjourns Lamido, sons’ N1.35bn fraud trial over counsel’s absence

The trial of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido, over an alleged N1.35bn fraud was on Tuesday again adjourned by the Federal High Court in Abuja following the absence of the lead defence counsel, Joe Agi (SAN).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Lamido and his sons before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on a 37-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, kickbacks and fictitious contract awards.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the offences, involving N1.35bn, were committed while Lamido served as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015.

This was disclosed in a statement posted on EFCC’s X handle on Tuesday.

The statement noted that in today proceedings, defence counsel, O.F. Ekegba, informed the court that Agi had travelled to Germany to meet with a witness and had taken the case file and relevant documents with him.

“My Lord, the lead counsel has travelled to Germany to have a meeting with the witness and has taken along the documents with him. We undertake to close our case within three days if granted a date in September,” Ekegba said.

Responding, prosecution counsel, Chile Okoroma (SAN), said the EFCC had only been served with the defence’s affidavit of facts on Tuesday morning.

“My Lord, we have been served with the affidavit of facts this morning in court. Ordinarily, I would have loved to respond, but my learned brother, Ekegba, has assured me that they will conclude their case within two to three days in September.

“He also explained to me that the file of the case is with the lead counsel. My Lord, based on the undertaking before this court, I will concede the adjournment,” Okoroma said.

Justice Ojukwu subsequently adjourned the matter to a date in September 2026, which will be communicated to both parties for the continuation of the trial.

The adjournment came a day after proceedings in the case were similarly stalled due to Agi’s absence.

PidomNigeria Online had reported on Monday that Agi informed the court through a letter that he was unable to attend the proceedings because of medical issues requiring surgery and requested an adjournment.

Although wishing the senior lawyer a speedy recovery, Okoroma argued that another member of the defence team should have appeared, noting that the case had been pending since 2015.

The prosecution also drew the court’s attention to the fact that Justice Ojukwu had travelled from her Calabar judicial division to Abuja to hear the matter before it was adjourned until Tuesday.

Lamido and his sons have pleaded not guilty to the charges.