Justice K.N. Ogbonnaya on Friday rebuked defence lawyers in the N2.28 billion North East Development Commission fraud case, accusing them of stalling trial after they declined to cross-examine the EFCC’s key witness.
The defendants — Alhaji Danjuma Mohammed, National Coordinator of the NEDC’s Multi-Sectional Crisis Recovery Projects, and Prince Achem — are facing 54 amended counts of fraud, conspiracy, false pretence and forgery. A third defendant, Aminu Alhaji, remains at large.
At the High Court of the FCT, Kubwa, defence counsel M.S. Ibrahim, SAN, and J.J. Usman, SAN, told the court they were “not ready” to question First Prosecution Witness Kenneth Ifekwudu Ejiofor. They instead sought an adjournment to obtain certified true copies of exhibits already tendered.
Justice Ogbonnaya rejected the request as “strange” and “unnecessary,” noting the documents before the court were originals and uncontested.
“There is no need to request for a certified true copy when the originals are intact and nobody has said they are missing,” she said. “If this request is granted that means there will be two originals… No court certifies any document that has been admitted.”
The judge added that with the first defendant still in custody, she expected the defence to push for speed. “I would have thought that you will want to proceed and finish with this witness but since you want to go home to have adequate time to prepare while this matter lingers, I will grant your request, but people should not say that judges are the ones wasting time. I don’t waste time,” she said.
The EFCC alleges the trio defrauded the victim, Kenneth Ifekwudu Ejiofor, of N2,280,000,000. Led by prosecution counsel O.O. Adeola, Ejiofor testified that the defendants gave him contract award letters after an agreement with his company.
He told the court that Prince Achem wrote to him and his firm requesting funds, which he provided. Documents supporting the claims were tendered and admitted.
Justice Ogbonnaya adjourned the matter to May 14, May 21, and June 25, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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