Court Adjourns N2.2bn Fraud Trial of NEDC Official Over Defendant’s Absence
Court Adjourns N2.2bn Fraud Trial of NEDC Official Over Defendant’s Absence
Court Adjourns N2.2bn Fraud Trial of NEDC Official Over Defendant’s Absence
The trial of the National Coordinator of Multi-Sectoral Crisis Recovery Projects (MCRP) at the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Danjuma Mohammed, was on Monday stalled before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Zuba, Abuja, following his absence from court.
Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya expressed displeasure over Mohammed’s failure to appear in court for two consecutive sittings without what she described as verifiable evidence to justify his absence.
Mohammed is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Prince Achem and Aminu Alhaji, who is currently at large, on an amended 54-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, financial fraud and forgery involving an alleged N2.2 billion.
At the resumed hearing, EFCC counsel, Joshua Saidi, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with its witnesses, who had travelled from the North-East to testify.
However, counsel to the first defendant, Chuka Obidike, told the court that his client was undergoing surgery and sought an adjournment while attempting to present a medical report.
Counsel to the second defendant, J.J. Usman, also confirmed he was prepared for trial but said he was informed that the first defendant required additional surgical procedures due to health complications.
Opposing the application, the EFCC argued that no medical report had been formally served on the prosecution before the hearing.
Saidi urged the court to reject the request for adjournment, revoke Mohammed’s bail, issue a bench warrant for his arrest and summon his surety to explain why the bail bond should not be forfeited.
He maintained that the continued absence of the defendant, despite the presence of prosecution witnesses from the North-East, had unnecessarily delayed the trial.
In her ruling, Justice Ogbonnaya held that the medical report could not be admitted because no trial proceedings were ongoing and no witness was giving evidence at the time.
The judge further criticised the defence for failing to properly file and serve the medical documents through the court registry before the hearing.
She observed that the court had no independent verification of the defendant’s health status, noting that the explanations offered by defence counsel amounted to hearsay.
Although the court declined the prosecution’s request to revoke the defendant’s bail immediately, Justice Ogbonnaya warned that the indulgence would be the last granted to the first defendant.
She consequently adjourned the matter to September 25 and 29, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
Court Adjourns N2.2bn Fraud Trial of NEDC Official Over Defendant’s Absence
