Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 1 for the fresh arraignment of former Jigawa state governor Sule Lamido over corruption charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Lamido will be arraigned alongside his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, who are accused of allegedly committing a ₦1.3 billion fraud with their father through the award of a fictitious contract.
Justice Lifu fixed the new date following the absence of the former governor and his sons in court to take their plea.
Although the fresh arraignment was scheduled for today, their counsel, Joe Agi (SAN), apologised for their absence, explaining that information about the trial was received on Thursday evening.
The EFCC had in 2015 charged Lamido, his two sons and their companies before the Federal High Court in Abuja on 27 counts of money laundering involving about ₦1.35 billion allegedly siphoned from the state.
Lamido and his co-defendants allegedly committed the offences during his tenure as governor between 2007 and 2015.
According to the commission, he abused his office during the period to launder funds allegedly received as kickbacks from state government contracts.
