Sule Lamido’s N1.35bn Money Laundering Trial Stalled Over Lawyer’s Absence

The trial of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido, over alleged N1.35 billion money laundering was stalled on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja due to the absence of the lead defence counsel, Joe Agi (SAN).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Lamido and his sons on a 37-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, kickbacks and fictitious contract awards amounting to N1.35 billion.

The anti-graft agency alleges that the offences were committed while Lamido served as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, EFCC counsel, Chile Okoroma (SAN), informed the court that the lead defence counsel had written to explain his absence, stating that he was undergoing surgery and requested an adjournment.

While wishing Agi a speedy recovery, Okoroma argued that another member of the defence team should have appeared in court to enable the trial to proceed, noting that the case had been pending since 2015.

He also pointed out that Justice Ojukwu had travelled from her jurisdiction in Calabar, Cross River State, to Abuja to hear the matter, urging the court to grant only a one-day adjournment.

Justice Ojukwu agreed with the prosecution’s request and adjourned the case until Tuesday for the continuation of the trial.