Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The trial of the National Coordinator of Multi-Sectional Crisis Recovery Projects (MCRP) of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Danjuma Mohammed, was again stalled on Monday, 13 July 2026, due to his failure to appear before Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Zuba, Abuja. Mohammed is facing prosecution alongside Prince Achem and Aminu Alhaji, who is currently at large, on an amended 54-count charge bordering on conspiracy, false pretence, financial fraud, and forgery to the tune of N2.2 billion.
Justice Ogbonnaya expressed displeasure at the defendant's absence for the second consecutive sitting without any verifiable reason. The judge noted that there was no medical report before the court to substantiate the defence team's claim that the defendant was ill and undergoing surgery. The prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi, told the court that the prosecution was ready to proceed with its witnesses, who had travelled from the North-East, but the defence counsel, Chuka Obidike, informed the court that the first defendant was still undergoing surgery and requested an adjournment. He sought to tender a medical report, but the prosecution objected, arguing that no prior notice had been given and that the defendant's whereabouts were unknown.
The prosecution counsel urged the court to revoke the defendant's bail and issue a bench warrant, arguing that the defendant's continued absence was unjustified. However, the judge, in her ruling, faulted the tendering of the medical report, noting that no trial proceeding was ongoing and no witness was testifying. She stated that the medical report could not be tendered in evidence without a proper application through the court registrar. The judge also expressed surprise that the defence counsel had not served the court with the medical report at the last adjourned date.
While the judge declined to revoke the defendant's bail, she exercised her discretionary power to adjourn the matter for the last time on the instance of the first defendant, placing the bail revocation in abeyance. She adjourned the case until September 25 and 29, 2026, for the continuation of trial. The judge's decision to hold off on bail revocation underscores the court's patience while also serving as a warning to the defendant that continued absence would not be tolerated indefinitely. The case, which involves allegations of massive fraud against a key federal agency, remains under intense scrutiny as the prosecution prepares to present its evidence.
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