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Supreme Court Orders Sule Lamido ₦1.35bn Corruption Trial to Resume

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In a landmark unanimous decision delivered today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has set aside the July 2023 ruling of the Court of Appeal that discharged former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, his sons Mustapha and Aminu Lamido, and their associated companies from corruption charges.

The five-man panel, led by Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, upheld the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), declaring it meritorious.

The apex court has now directed the defendants to return to the Federal High Court in Abuja to continue their defense against the allegations.

The long-running case stems from a 37-count charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office, and related offenses. The EFCC accuses Lamido of laundering approximately ₦1.35 billion in alleged kickbacks from contractors during his tenure as governor between 2007 and 2015. His sons and companies Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited are also implicated in the alleged financial misconduct.

After the prosecution closed its case, the defendants filed a no-case submission at the trial court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu. The Federal High Court rejected the submission, ruling that the evidence presented was sufficient to require the defendants to enter a defense.

The defendants successfully appealed that decision to the Court of Appeal, which discharged them in July 2023. Dissatisfied, the EFCC escalated the matter to the Supreme Court, arguing that the appellate court erred in law by halting the trial despite a prima facie case having been established.

Today’s ruling reinstates the charges and paves the way for the trial to resume at the lower court, marking a significant development in one of Nigeria’s most prominent high-profile corruption prosecutions spanning over a decade.

Legal analysts view the decision as a reinforcement of the judiciary’s commitment to ensuring accountability in public office cases, with the matter now set to proceed to full trial and potential conclusion.

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President Tinubu Orders Army Deployment to Kaiama Following Deadly Terrorist Attack

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President Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate deployment of an army battalion to Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State in response to a brutal overnight terrorist attack on the Worro community that claimed numerous lives.

The assault, attributed to Boko Haram terrorists, targeted defenseless villagers who reportedly resisted attempts at extremist indoctrination.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu condemned the incident as a “cowardly and beastly” act, describing the perpetrators as heartless for deliberately selecting soft civilian targets in their failing terror campaign.

The President highlighted the victims’ refusal to embrace a violent and extreme ideology, praising the community predominantly Muslim for upholding a peaceful practice of Islam that prioritizes peace and dialogue over coercion and bloodshed.

“It’s commendable that the community members, even though Muslims, refused to be conscripted into a weird belief that promoted violence over peace and dialogue,” the statement quoted the President as saying.

00To counter the threat and safeguard vulnerable populations, the newly deployed military unit will lead Operation Savannah Shield, aimed at neutralizing the terrorists, preventing further incursions, and restoring security in the affected areas.

President Tinubu expressed deep outrage over the killings and called for enhanced coordination between federal and state authorities to deliver immediate relief to survivors, support affected families, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice without delay.

The President offered prayers for the repose of the souls of the deceased and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, the people of Worro, Kaiama, and Kwara State as a whole, as well as the state government.

The attack on Worro and nearby Nuku communities has been widely reported as one of the deadliest in the region recently, with varying accounts of the casualty figures ranging from dozens to over 160, amid ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s north-central zone.

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KWARA UPDATE: Massacre Claims Over 78 in Deserted Nigerian Town with 38 Kidnapped – Govt Silent (Video)

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A devastating massacre has left a Nigerian town in ruins, with reports of massive civilian casualties and widespread devastation, as the local community reels from the horror.

According to accounts from the scene, the town now lies desolate, abandoned by survivors, with corpses littering the streets in scenes likened by witnesses to a poultry farm ravaged by disease bodies scattered indiscriminately, unrecovered, and contributing to an atmosphere of total abandonment and trauma.

Initial press reports have cited a death toll of at least 75, but local sources and eyewitness claims suggest the true figure is far higher, exceeding 170 killed in the attack. The incident has been described unequivocally as a massacre by military officials, including statements attributed to the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the relevant army division, who characterized the event in those terms.

Despite the scale of the tragedy and the GOC’s public acknowledgment, the federal government team has yet to issue any official response or statement addressing the killings, recovery efforts, or security measures to prevent further violence. This silence has amplified local anguish amid the unfolding humanitarian crisis.

The attack underscores Nigeria’s persistent security challenges in vulnerable regions, where communities face repeated threats from armed groups, often leaving towns emptied and survivors displaced.

Authorities have not yet confirmed details on the perpetrators or the precise circumstances leading to the bloodshed, leaving many questions unanswered as the nation grapples with yet another episode of extreme violence.

More update soon. Watch video below:

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Bandits Kill at Least 35 in Deadly Raid on Remote Kwara Village

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Armed bandits launched a brutal overnight attack on the remote village of Woro in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing at least 35 people and setting homes and shops ablaze, according to local authorities and residents.

The assault occurred late Tuesday evening, around 6-7 p.m., when heavily armed gunmen stormed the community, shooting indiscriminately as panicked residents fled into surrounding bushland.

The attackers also torched buildings, including shops and reportedly the traditional ruler’s palace, leaving the king’s whereabouts unknown at the time of reporting.

Hon. Saidu Baba Ahmed, the lawmaker representing Kaiama in the Kwara State House of Assembly, confirmed the death toll had reached 35 by Wednesday morning, with many more residents still missing after escaping into the bush during the chaos.

Some sources described the attackers as terrorists possibly linked to groups spilling over from neighboring Niger State, amid rising insecurity in the border region.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq condemned the incident as a “cowardly expression of frustration by terrorist cells” in response to ongoing counterterrorism operations in parts of the state.

Authorities have noted that the attack marks one of the deadliest incidents in Kwara this year, highlighting the persistent threat of banditry targeting isolated farming communities with killings, arson, and displacement.

Security forces are said to be reinforcing presence in the area, though initial reports indicate some discrepancies in early casualty figures, with some local accounts initially lower before bodies were recovered overnight.

The incident underscores the escalating violence in north-central Nigeria, where armed groups continue to exploit rural vulnerabilities despite government efforts to curb banditry and terrorism.

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