Lagos Court Sets May Date for Ruling in Former Niger Official’s N1.5bn EFCC Case
A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned until May 8, 2026, to rule on a “no-case submission” filed by a former Niger State governor and his former Commissioner in a high-profile corruption trial involving over N1.5 billion in ecological funds.
Justice Yeliam Bogoro fixed the date after proceedings on Thursday, February 26, 2026, during which the prosecution and defence counsel adopted their final addresses. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting former Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu and Umar Muhammed Nasko, a former Commissioner for Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources, on an eight-count charge of conspiracy, money laundering, and conversion.
The Defence’s “no-case submission” argues that the prosecution has failed to establish a prima facie case warranting the defendants to enter a defence. In response, prosecution counsel Faruk Abdallah informed the court that his written reply was filed on February 5, 2026. He detailed that the prosecution called 11 witnesses and tendered several exhibits to prove its case before closing.
Abdallah noted that the first defendant, Aliyu, filed his written no-case submission on December 18, 2025, while the second defendant, Nasko, filed his on November 23, 2025. “At the close of the prosecution’s case, both defendants opted to make a no-case submission,” he stated, adding that the prosecution’s address adopts its response to both filings.
The case, which commenced with the defendants’ arraignment on April 28, 2017, centres on the alleged conspiracy and conversion of N1,509,791,200.00 meant for ecological projects in Niger State.
EFCC’s Head of Media and publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the adjournment. The May 8 ruling will determine whether the defendants will be required to defend the charges or if the case will be dismissed at this stage.
The prolonged legal battle over the alleged misappropriation of public ecological funds continues to draw attention, with the upcoming ruling poised to be a critical juncture in one of the EFCC’s major corruption prosecutions involving former public office holders.
