Defence counsel’s absence delays Lamido fraud trial again

Nkereuwem Effiong

The trial of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha Lamido, was again stalled on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, following the absence of the lead defence counsel, Joe Agi, SAN.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the defendants before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a 37-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, kickbacks and fraudulent contract awards involving N1.35 billion.

The alleged offences were said to have been committed while Sule Lamido served as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015.

When the case, which was scheduled for continuation of the defence, came up on Tuesday, defence counsel O. F. Ekegba informed the court that the lead counsel 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 meet with the witness and has taken the documents relating to the case with him. We undertake to conclude our defence within three days if the matter is adjourned to September,” Ekegba said.

Responding, prosecution counsel Chile Okoroma, SAN, told the court: “My Lord, we were served with the affidavit of facts this morning in court. Ordinarily, I would have responded, but my learned friend, Ekegba, has assured me that they will conclude their case within two or three days in September. He also explained that the case file is with the lead counsel. Based on that undertaking, I have no objection to the application for adjournment.”

Justice Ojukwu subsequently adjourned the matter to a date in September 2026, to be communicated to both parties, for the continuation of the trial. The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.