Justice Yeliam Bogoro of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has fixed May 8, 2026, to deliver ruling on the no-case submission filed by a former Governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, and his co-defendant, Umar Muhammed Nasko, in the alleged N1.5billion ecological fund fraud case.
The date was set on Thursday, February 26, 2026, following the adoption of final written addresses by counsel to the parties.
At the resumed proceedings, prosecution counsel, Faruk Abdallah, informed the court that he had filed the prosecution’s response to the defendants’ no-case submissions on February 5, 2026.
Counsel to the first defendant, Y. Kalamu, and Mamman Mike Osuman (SAN), who represented the second defendant, adopted their respective addresses, urging the court to uphold their applications.
The defendants are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, and alleged diversion of ecological funds amounting to N1,509,791,200.00.
Aliyu, a former governor of Niger State, is standing trial alongside Nasko, a former Commissioner for Environment, Parks, Gardens and Forest Resources in the state. They were arraigned on April 28, 2017.
In his response to the no-case submissions, the prosecution counsel reminded the court that the anti-graft agency had called 11 witnesses and tendered several exhibits in a bid to establish its case against the defendants.
“At the close of the prosecution’s case, the first defendant opted to make a no-case submission. The first defendant filed a written no-case submission on December 18, 2025.
“In response thereof, the prosecution has filed this address and adopts the same as its response,” Abdallah said.
He also noted that the second defendant filed his written no-case submission on November 23, 2025, after the prosecution closed its case.
Following the adoption of arguments by both parties, Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter until May 8, 2026, for ruling on whether the defendants have a case to answer or should be discharged.
