After nearly nine years of long-drawn litigation, the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday discharged Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa state, and his two sons, of the N712 million money laundering allegation brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In 2015 the EFCC slammed 37 amended charges bordering on money laundering against Lamido and two of his sons – Aminu and Mustapha
Other defendants in the case are Aminu Abubakar, business associate to the former governor, and four companies – Bamaina Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminium Limited, Speeds International Limited and Batholomew Darlington Agoha.
EFCC called 16 witnesses before closing its case in 2022 and instead of opening their defence, the defendants filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution had not placed sufficient materials before the court to warrant such.
The Court of Appeal in the lead judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Waziri resolved the issues on appeal against the respondent and in favour of the appellant.
Justice Waziri held that the trial court ought not to have heard the suit since the offence committed was not within its territorial jurisdiction.
The Court added that the case should have been filed in Jigawa state where the offences were allegedly committed.
