The trial of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons over an alleged N1.35 billion fraud suffered another setback on Tuesday after proceedings were postponed due to the absence of the lead defence counsel.
The case, being heard before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, could not proceed after defence lawyer Joe Agi (SAN) failed to appear in court, forcing another adjournment in the long-running trial.
Lamido, alongside his sons Aminu and Mustapha Lamido, is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a 37-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, kickbacks and fraudulent contract awards during his tenure as governor of Jigawa State.
When the matter was called, another lawyer from the defence team informed the court that the lead counsel was unavailable and appealed for a new hearing date.
Counsel for the EFCC did not oppose the request but urged the court to ensure the matter proceeds without further unnecessary delays, noting that the case has experienced several adjournments.
Justice Ojukwu subsequently granted the application and fixed September 22, 2026, for the continuation of the trial and hearing of the defendants’ no-case submission.
The case has remained one of the EFCC’s longest-running corruption prosecutions, following several legal challenges, jurisdictional disputes and appeals that have delayed its conclusion.
The anti-graft agency alleges that Lamido and his co-defendants illegally received funds through kickbacks linked to government contracts and laundered about N1.35 billion through companies associated with them. The defendants have consistently denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Supreme Court earlier restored the charges after overturning a Court of Appeal judgment that had dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds, allowing the trial to continue before the Federal High Court.
With the latest adjournment, the parties are expected to return to court in September as the prosecution and defence continue legal arguments in the high-profile corruption case.