Alleged N1.3b Fraud: Lamido, Son, Family Businesses To Face Fresh Arraignment

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC will on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, arraign the former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido before Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, for the commencement of his fresh trial for alleged N1.3 billion fraud.

Lamido will be arraigned alongside his two sons, Aminu Lamido and Mustapha Lamido, as well as their two companies, Bamaina Holdings Ltd and Speeds International Ltd. He, and his sons committed the alleged fraud through acceptance of kick-backs and fictitious contract awards, while the first defendant was governor from 2007-2015.

The new arraignment date followed the failure of the defendants to present themselves in court on the initial arraignment date of Friday, March 13, 2026.

Defence counsel, Joe Agi, SAN, who apologised for the aborted arraignment claimed that the absence of the defendants was as a result of the arraignment date that got to them at a short notice. He promised to make them available on the April 1 adjourned date.

Meanwhile, prosecution counsel, Chile Okoroma, SAN, expressed dismay at the absence of the defendants in court, stating that they were properly served the arraignment notice and in good time.

He disclosed that the prosecution wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, demanding that the initial trial judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, now on transfer to Calabar, Cross River State be brought back to Abuja for the trial of the defendants. Justice Lifu stated that the request of the prosecution was an administrative issue that would be determined by the Chief Judge and went ahead fixed April 1 for the new arraignment date.

The EFCC in 2015 charged the defendants before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of Federal High Court, Abuja on 27-count charge, bordering on money laundering, official corruption and abuse of office to the tune of N1.3 billion.

The defendants filed a no‑case submission, after the prosecution had called about 17 witnesses and closed its case, arguing that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to require them to defend themselves. However, in November 2022, Justice Ojukwu dismissed the no-case submission and ordered them to enter their defence.

Rather than do so, the defendants appealed the ruling and in July 2023, the Court of Appeal upheld their no‑case submission and discharged them. The appellate court further held that the Abuja Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter, stating that the trial should have been conducted in Jigawa State, where the alleged offences occurred.

Sule Lamido

In August 2023, EFCC proceeded to the Supreme Court, asking the Apex Court to overturn the ruling of the Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court in a unanimous judgment of a five‑member panel, delivered by Justice Abubakar Umar, in January 16, 2026, set aside the ruling of the Appeal Court and held that the defendants have a case to answer.

It further ordered that the matter be returned to the Federal High Court for continuation of trial, thus setting the stage for a fresh arraignment of the defendants.

EFCC Arraigns Intermediate Investment Holdings Boss, Ufoma Immanuel for Alleged $1.5m Investment Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, arraigned one Ufoma Joseph Immanuel for an alleged $1.5m fraud before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

Immanuel, alongside his company, Intermediate Investment Holdings Ltd., was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and forgery.

Count one reads: “UFOMA JOSEPH IMMANUEL and INTERMEDIATE INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LIMITED between April 2022 and October 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, induced Adebisi Adebut of R28 Holdings Limited to deposit the total sum of S1, 500, 000.00 (One Million, five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars USD) as investment described as to wit: “Cash and or Capital Cost in Chappal Petroleum Development Company Limited; Business Development Cost in Intermediate Investment Holdings Limited: Capital and or Capital Call in Chappal Energies Mauritius Limited” on the understanding that R28 Holdings Limited will be; (a) reimbursed the investment amount (b) paid a Development Capital fee of $2 250,000.00. (Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars) (c) 22.4% worth of shares in Intermediate Investment Holdings Limited which representation you knew to be false.”

Count two reads: “UFOMA JOSEPH IMMANUEL, sometime between April 2022 and April 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, forged a document to wit: TERM SHEET and purporting same to have been executed by Sherrif Oluwo and Olaniran Osotuyi in order to facilitate your obtaining money by inducement from Adebisi Adebutu of R28 Holdings Limited.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him.

In view of this, prosecution counsel, Babatunde Sonoiki, asked the court to fix a date for trial and also prayed the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the International Criminal Police Organization, INTERPOL, pending the conclusion of its investigation.

Sonoiki stated that the defendant was brought to court for the purpose of his arraignment on Wednesday.

He also stated that the defendant would be remanded at the appropriate Correctional centre upon conclusion of investigations by the INTERPOL.

During the proceedings, Sonoiki further narrated how the defence counsel, Oluseun Awonuga, SAN, had physically assaulted his colleague, Emenike Mgbemele, at the last adjourned sitting on March 2, 2026.

According to him, “My lord, the learned silk, physically assaulted my colleague on the staircase on his way to serve the defendant the charge as directed by the court.

“There is a video to that effect and we intend to tender it before the court.”

Though Awonuga did not respond to the allegation made against him by the prosecution counsel, he informed the court of a preliminary objection and a written address dated January 5, 2026.

He, therefore, urged the court to discountenance the counter-affidavit of the prosecution.

He stated that the Federal High Court, in a ruling, had ordered the EFCC not to arrest the defendant.

“EFCC has flouted the order by arresting the defendant and I hereby urge your lordship to discountenance their counter- affidavit,” he said.

Sonoiki, in his response, said that the ruling was part of the motion that had earlier been withdrawn by the defence and should not be before the court.

The prosecution, in his 21-paragraph counter-affidavit dated February 9, 2026, urged the court to dismiss the notice of preliminary objections.

According to him, “there is nowhere in the ruling that says the defendants cannot be arraigned in a court of competent jurisdiction.

“My lord, the ruling was delivered in a civil case; and according to the Supreme Court, a criminal case and civil case can go on at the same time.

“We urge the court to dismiss the application and order accelerated hearing in this case.”

Justice Dada ,consequently, adjourned the case till May 7, 2026 for ruling.

The court also ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of INTERPOL pending the conclusion of investigations, after which he would be remanded in a Correctional centre pending the hearing of his bail application.

Prior to Wednesday’s arraignment of the defendant, Justice Dada had, on February 26, 2026, declined hearing on the preliminary objection filed by the defence counsel owing to the absence of the defendant, who had earlier been declared wanted, in court.

Ufoma Immanuel

During the February 26 sitting, Justice Dada also stood down the matter and ordered that the defendant be brought to court, when the defence counsel insisted that the defendant was not evading service of court processes and arrest.

Upon the defendant being brought to court, Justice Dada had ordered that he be served with the charge and adjourned the matter to March 11, 2026 for arraignment.

Consequent upon the order of the court, Mgbemele had moved to serve the charge on the defendant.

However, the defence counsel deliberately blocked and pushed down Mgbemele, thereby enabling the defendant to escape.

The defendant was, however, arrested by INTERPOL while trying to jet out of the country on March 4, 2026.

Kaduna: EFCC Arrests 15 Suspects With Radioactive Solid Minerals

Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested 15 male suspects for their alleged involvement in illegal dealing on radioactive solid minerals.

EFCC

The suspects were intercepted and arrested on Sunday, March 8, 2026 along Suleja-Maji Road, Niger State, while conveying the suspected solid minerals in three trucks to several locations across Nigeria for an undisclosed purpose.

The suspects are currently undergoing further investigations in the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Commission and will soon be charged to court.