Court resumes trial of Lamido, others today over alleged N1.35 fraud

• EFCC ordered to pay N5m to Saraki’s ally for illegally declaring him wanted
• Civil servant bags 28 years jail for N86.1m contract fraud 

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, yesterday, adjourned the trial of a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and others to today for the continuation of cross-examination of prosecution witness, Michael Wetkas. 

The former governor and his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha; Aminu Wada Abubakar; Bamaina Holdings Ltd; and Speeds International Ltd are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on a 43-count charge bordering on money laundering and abuse of office to the tune of N1.35 billion.

Also, a Federal High Court, Lagos yesterday, ordered the EFCC to pay N5 million to Dr. Kennedy Izuagbe, a businessman and an ally of Senator Bukola Saraki, for breaching his fundamental rights.

The trial judge, Lewis Allagoa, ordered the anti-graft agency to delete the name of Izuagbe from its websites as a wanted person. He also ordered the EFCC to publish unreserved apology to the businessman in its websites and social media handles.

Allagoa made the orders while delivering judgment in a fundamental rights enforcement suit brought against the agency by the businessman.

Izuagbe had dragged the anti-graft agency before the court through his counsel, Mrs. Ifeoma Esom, in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/2127/2021, wherein he sought the following reliefs: a declaration that the respondent has no power or authority to declare him “wanted” without any order of a court of competent jurisdiction and in the absence of any facts providing reasonable suspicion that he has committed an offence to warrant such declaration.”

Meanwhile, a Borno State High Court, sitting in Maiduguri, sentenced a civil servant, Ma’aji Shettima Arfo, to 28 years imprisonment for engaging in an N86.1 million contract fraud.

Arfo, who was sentenced to jail by Justice Haruna Mshellia, of Borno State High Court, 3, was the general manager of the state-owned Maiduguri Flour Mills Limited, where he committed the fraud.