Justice Yeliam Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed May 8, 2026, to deliver a ruling on the no-case submission filed by former Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and his co-defendant, Umar Muhammed Nasko.
The date was set on Thursday, February 26, 2026, after counsel for both the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses.
The defendants are facing trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge involving conspiracy, money laundering, and alleged diversion of ecological funds amounting to N1,509,791,200.00.
Aliyu, who served as 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.
During Thursday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel Faruk Abdallah informed the court that the EFCC had filed its response to the defendants’ no-case submissions on February 5, 2026.
He noted that the prosecution called 11 witnesses and tendered several exhibits to establish its case.
Counsel for the first defendant, Y. Kalamu, and Mamman Mike Osuman (SAN), representing the second defendant, adopted their respective addresses and urged the court to uphold the no-case submissions.
Abdallah reminded the court that the first defendant filed his written no-case submission on December 18, 2025, while the second defendant filed on November 23, 2025, after the prosecution closed its case.
Following arguments from both sides, Justice Bogoro adjourned the matter to May 8, 2026, for ruling on whether the defendants have a case to answer or should be discharged.
