Aminu Lamido Awaits Ruling in Alleged $40,000 Fraud Case Today

The Supreme Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict today regarding the appeal from Aminu Sule Lamido, the 34-year-old child of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido. This follows his conviction for failing to declare $40,000 in cash at the airport, as well as a charge of making a false declaration of foreign currency, which was filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Aminu was apprehended by anti-graft agents on December 11, 2012, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport as he was heading to Egypt. He had declared only $10,000 on the Customs Currency Declaration Form, neglecting to mention the remaining $40,000 in cash.

Aminu, who graduated in 2010 with a degree in Mass Communication from Bayero University Kano, was officially charged by the EFCC on February 4, 2013, with making a false declaration of foreign currency under the Money Laundering Act.

The EFCC subsequently brought him before the Federal High Court in Kano, where he faced conviction on July 12, 2015. He was ordered to forfeit 25% of the undeclared cash to the Federal Government.

Dissatisfied with the trial court's decision, Aminu launched an appeal to the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, requesting that the ruling be overturned.

However, on December 7, 2015, the appellate court dismissed his appeal, upholding the initial court's ruling and addressing all issues posed by the appellant.

Unpleased with this outcome, Aminu then sought the intervention of the Supreme Court, aiming to overturn his conviction and annul the judgments from both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.

The principal prosecution in this case, DCE Sa’ad Hanafi, who is now the Acting Zonal Director of the Benin Directorate of the commission, represented the EFCC throughout the proceedings from the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court. On the other hand, Chief O. E. B. Offiong (SAN) defended Aminu.

During the last adjournment, the parties involved submitted their briefs, after which the Supreme Court reserved its judgment, setting January 16, 2026, as the date for announcing its decision on the appeal.