A Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse, Abuja, has adjourned the criminal case involving former National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, to July 28 following the prosecution’s inability to obtain a key bank statement expected to be tendered as evidence.
The adjournment was granted after the prosecution informed the court that efforts to secure the document from the financial institution had not been successful.
Speaking with journalists after the proceedings, SDP National Chairman, Professor Sadiq Abubakar Gombe, explained that the bank statement is central to the case and forms part of the evidence the prosecution intends to present during the hearing.
According to him, the legal team had initially applied directly to the bank for the document, but the request could not be processed within the required timeframe.
He said the prosecution subsequently approached the court registry to obtain a subpoena directing the bank to produce the records.
Gombe disclosed that the bank informed the parties that the document is voluminous and requires certification, stamping and approval from its headquarters before it can be released.
“The case was adjourned because we could not obtain one of the key documents to be tendered in court, which is the bank statement. We approached the bank directly, but the document was not released. We then secured a subpoena through the court, and the bank requested additional time because the records are bulky and require certification,” he said.
The court thereafter adjourned the matter until July 28 for continuation of hearing.
The case is expected to resume once the subpoenaed banking records are made available to the court