Appeal court discharges Sule Lamido of money laundering — because case was not filed in Jigawa

The court of appeal in Abuja has discharged Sule Lamido, former governor of Jigawa state, and his two sons, of N712 million money laundering allegation.

In a judgment delivered on Tuesday, the court held that the no-case submission filed by the defendants was meritorious.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Lamido and two of his sons – Aminu and Mustapha — in 2015.

They were facing 37 amended charges bordering on money laundering.

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 had called 16 witnesses before closing its case in 2022.

Rather than open 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 no-case submission was dismissed on September 20, 2022, by Ijeoma Ojukwu, the presiding judge, who ordered the defendants to open their case.

However, the defendants appealed the ruling.

Giving the ruling, the appellate court led by Adamu Waziri held that the trial court ought not to have heard the suit since the offence committed was not within its territorial jurisdiction.

The appeal court held that the case should have been filed in Jigawa state where the offences were allegedly committed.

He, therefore, discharged the former governor and his sons.