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, before the Federal High Court in Abuja following the absence of their lead counsel, Joe Agi, SAN.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Lamido, his sons and other defendants before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu on a 37-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering, kickbacks and fictitious contract awards involving about ₦1.35 billion.
The commission alleged that the offences were committed while Lamido served as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015. The defendants have denied the allegations.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, which had been scheduled for continuation of the defence, O.F. Ekegba, who appeared for the defendants, informed the court that he had filed an affidavit explaining the absence of the lead counsel.
Ekegba said Agi had travelled to Germany to meet with a witness and had taken the case documents with him, making it difficult for another lawyer on the defence team to proceed with the trial.
“My Lord, the lead counsel has travelled to Germany to have a meeting with the witness and has taken along the documents with him,” he told the court.
The defence lawyer consequently sought an adjournment and undertook that the defendants would conclude the presentation of their case within three days if the court granted hearing dates in September.
“We undertake to close our case within three days if granted a date in September,” Ekegba said.
Responding, EFCC counsel Chile Okoroma, SAN, confirmed that the prosecution was served with the affidavit of facts on Tuesday morning.
Okoroma said he would ordinarily have requested time to respond to the affidavit but decided not to oppose the application after the defence assured him that it would conclude its case within two or three days in September.
“My Lord, we have been served with the affidavit of facts this morning in court. Ordinarily, I would have loved to respond, but my learned brother Ekegba has assured me that they will conclude their case within two to three days in September,” he said.
“He also explained to me that the file of the case is with the lead counsel. My Lord, based on the undertaking before this court, I will concede the adjournment.”
Justice Ojukwu, after listening to both parties, adjourned the matter to a date in September 2026, which will be communicated to the lawyers, for continuation of the defence.
Tuesday’s proceedings came a day after the trial was similarly stalled over Agi’s absence.
At Monday’s hearing, the court was informed through a letter that the senior lawyer was unavailable because of medical issues involving surgery.
Although the EFCC wished him a speedy recovery, the prosecution argued that another member of the defence team should have been delegated to continue the case, especially as the trial had remained pending since 2015.
Okoroma also drew the court’s attention to the fact that Justice Ojukwu travelled from the Calabar Division of the Federal High Court to Abuja specifically to hear the matter.
The judge subsequently granted a one-day adjournment and fixed Tuesday for continuation of trial. However, proceedings could not continue after the defence disclosed that Agi had travelled to Germany and was in possession of the relevant case documents.
The defendants are expected to resume their defence on the date to be communicated by the court in September.
They remain presumed innocent unless found guilty by a competent court.
