Lamido is answering to 27-count criminal charge bordering on corruption, money laundering, breach of trust and illegal diversion of public funds to the tune of N1.35billion. He is facing trial with his two sons, Aminu and Mustapha, alongside their alleged accomplice, Wada Abubakar. Lamido was specifically alleged to have abused his position as governor of Jigawa State between 2007 and 2015, by awarding contracts to companies where he had interest, using his two sons as front. He was equally alleged to have collected kickbacks from contractors in the state, with the funds allegedly paid into accounts that were managed by his sons. Four companies that were allegedly involved in the fraud – Bamaina Holdings Limited, Bamiana Company Nigeria Limited, Bamaina Aluminium Limited and Speeds International Limited, were also joined in the charge. At the resumed trial, yesterday, the EFCC called a twelfth witness, Alhaji Suraju Ahmadu, to testify before Justice Ademola Adeniyi. The witness who was led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Chile Okoroma, told the court that he knew all the defendants very well. Ahmadu, who is the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of Rauda Integrated Services Limited, denied executing contracts in Jigawa State aside the construction of a hospital, a staff quarters, as well as the deployment of motorized boreholes that provide solar energy in Jigawa State. The witness said he never authorised anyone to take decisions on behalf of the company. Another witness, Joy Isen, had on February 10, 2016, tendered before the court, account opening packages and statements of account of Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company, Interior Woodworks Limited and Rauda Integrated Services Limited.The documents were accordingly admitted in evidence by the court. However, when the documents relating to his company was shown to Ahmadu yesterday, he denied knowledge of it and how it came to be. The witness insisted that bank documents does not belong to his company. Under cross-examination, Ahmadu said there were no financial transaction between him and the 3rd defendant, Mustapha Lamido, aside the sale of his Prudent Bank (now Skye Bank) shares valued at a total of N5.8million, and the purchase of a N2.4million Honda Accord from the defendant. Meantime, Justice Adeniyi has adjourned the case till Friday.]]>