Former Jigawa Governor and Sons Absolved of N1.35 Billion Charges by Court of Appeal

ABUJA - In a groundbreaking ruling, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has cleared former Jigawa State governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, his sons, and other defendants of all charges relating to an alleged N1.35 billion money laundering case. The three-man panel of the appellate court struck out the charges, citing the lack of territorial jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The trial, which began in 2015, saw Lamido, his sons Aminu and Mustapha, as well as Aminu Wada Abubakar and their companies, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd, face a 37-count charge of money laundering. The charges were brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following allegations of financial impropriety during Lamido's tenure as governor.

The Court of Appeal's judgment marks a significant victory for Lamido and the other defendants. The trial judge had initially dismissed their no-case submissions and ordered them to open their defense in November 2022. Dissatisfied with this decision, they turned to the Court of Appeal seeking redress.

The appellate court, in its lead judgment delivered by Justice Adamu Waziri, upheld the defendants' no-case submissions and set aside the trial court's ruling. Justice Waziri emphasized that the alleged offenses took place in Jigawa State and should have been filed there, not in Abuja.

Consequently, the charges were struck out, and the defendants were discharged. The Court of Appeal's ruling brings an end to a protracted legal battle that has spanned several years.

Lamido's exoneration is likely to have far-reaching implications for the Nigerian legal system. It underscores the significance of jurisdiction and the need for charges to be filed in the appropriate venue. The ruling also raises questions about the handling of high-profile corruption cases and the fundamental tenets of due process and procedural fairness.

The former governor and his sons have maintained their innocence throughout the case and insisted that the charges against them were politically motivated. They have consistently argued that the charges lacked merit and were an attempt to tarnish their reputations.

As the defendants celebrate their legal victory, many will be watching to see if there are any further developments in this case or if it is finally laid to rest. The Court of Appeal's ruling has already sparked discussions about the efficacy of the Nigerian judicial system and its ability to effectively deal with corruption cases.

For now, Alhaji Sule Lamido, his sons, and the other defendants can breathe a sigh of relief as they put this legal ordeal behind them. However, the impact of this case will likely continue to reverberate through the Nigerian political and legal landscape for years to come.

Source of content: OOO News 2023-07-26 News

More detailed, more comprehensive, fresher news, please visit OOO NEWS.