In a decisive judgment that underscores Nigeria’s hard line on financial transparency, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed by Aminu Sule Lamido, son of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, over his conviction for failing to declare $40,000 while departing the country.
A unanimous five-member panel of the apex court, in its ruling delivered on Friday, January 16, 2026, resolved all issues against the appellant, affirming in full the judgments of the Court of Appeal in Kaduna and the Federal High Court in Kano.
The Supreme Court held that the appeal lacked merit, effectively shutting the final legal door on Aminu Lamido’s bid to overturn his conviction for undeclared foreign currency and false declaration.
By upholding the decisions of the lower courts, the justices reinforced the principle that currency declaration laws apply equally to all Nigerians, regardless of family name or political lineage.
The case dates back to July 12, 2015, when the Federal High Court in Kano convicted Aminu Lamido—then aged 34—on charges instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The court found that he failed to properly declare $40,000 in cash while traveling out of Nigeria and made a false declaration of foreign currency.
In addition to the conviction, the trial court ordered the forfeiture of 25 percent of the undeclared sum to the Federal Government.
With the Supreme Court’s ruling, the long-running legal battle has reached its end. Legal observers say the judgment sends a clear signal that Nigeria’s apex court will not tolerate attempts to circumvent financial regulations or undermine the country’s currency control regime.
For the anti-graft agencies, the verdict is being seen as another affirmation of the courts’ support for enforcement actions aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in cross-border financial movements.
In the end, the message from the nation’s highest court was unmistakable: the law speaks louder than pedigree.
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