The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, warned corrupt politicians, civil servants, and fraudsters, saying there won’t be help for them from anywhere when they get caught in the agency’s net.

EFCC gave the warning in a cryptic message written in Pidgin English and posted on its verified social media handles shortly after the Supreme Court’s ruling ordering the continuation of the ?1.35 billion money laundering trial involving former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, and his two sons.

The anti-graft agency, which dragged the matter to the apex Court and won, wrote on its official Facebook page, “Resources made for Everybody allegedly looted by Somebody who has deprived Everybody as if Everybody na Nobody. Now you are in EFCC’s custody, there won’t be help from Anybody.”

The post, widely interpreted as a veiled reference to the embattled former governor and his family, quickly drew public attention online.

The Supreme Court in a judgement delivered on Friday, January 16, 2026, ordered the continuation of the corruption trial of Sule Lamido and his two sons, Mustapha and Aminu Lamido.

The apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel led by Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar, allowed the appeal filed by the EFCC against the 2023 verdict of the Court of Appeal, which had earlier discharged and acquitted the former governor and others.

Justice Umar held that the anti-graft agency’s appeal was “meritorious”, setting aside the appellate court’s judgement and directing Lamido and his co-defendants to return to the Federal High Court, Abuja, to open their defence.

Lamido, who governed Jigawa State from 2007 to 2015, is standing trial alongside his sons, Aminu and Mustapha, his associates, Wada Abubakar, and two companies: Bamaina Holdings Limited and Speeds International Limited.

They are facing a 37-count amended charge bordering on money laundering, abuse of office, and receipt of kickbacks amounting to ?1.35billion from contractors handling state government projects.

At the close of the EFCC’s case, the defendants filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them. However, the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed the application, holding that there was sufficient evidence requiring them to enter their defence.

Dissatisfied, Lamido and others approached the Court of Appeal, which in July 2023 overturned the Federal High Court’s ruling and discharged them.

The EFCC, in turn, appealed to the Supreme Court, contending that the appellate court erred in law by setting aside the lower court’s decision despite what it described as “an avalanche of evidence” linking the defendants to the alleged offences.

The Supreme Court, in its ruling on Friday, agreed with the EFCC and ordered that the trial resume at the Federal High Court.

In a different matter same day, the apex court also upheld the conviction of Aminu Sule Lamido for failing to declare $40,000 cash while departing the country and for making a false declaration of foreign currency. (LEADERSHIP)

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