The criminal trial of former National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Musa Gabam, suffered a temporary setback on Monday after the court adjourned proceedings to August 17, 2026, following its inability to sit, delaying the prosecution’s presentation of key banking records.
The prosecution had planned to tender the SDP’s bank statements through officials of Zenith Bank, who were subpoenaed to testify in the case involving allegations of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of party funds and other financial offences against Gabam and his co-defendants.
Speaking after the adjournment, SDP National Chairman, Professor Abubakar Sadiq Gombe, said the prosecution team, defence counsel and officials of Zenith Bank were all present and ready for the day’s proceedings before the court announced it would not sit.
“We were fully prepared for the hearing. Our legal team was present, and the subpoenaed bank officials came with the statement of account. Unfortunately, the court could not sit, so the matter has now been fixed for August 17,” Gombe said.
He described the subpoenaed bank records as a crucial component of the prosecution’s case, alleging that they contain details of financial transactions involving party funds that the prosecution intends to rely on during the trial.
Gombe further alleged that the records reveal repeated payments to an individual who neither served as the party’s treasurer nor held any office responsible for managing its finances.
According to him, the alleged financial irregularities informed the party’s decision to introduce reforms aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of its finances.
Commenting on the SDP’s leadership dispute, Gombe maintained that Gabam’s expulsion remains valid, insisting it was approved by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in line with the SDP Constitution and the Electoral Act.
He argued that questions relating to party leadership are internal matters, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) merely monitored the process that culminated in Gabam’s expulsion and certified that it complied with statutory requirements.
Gombe also alleged that the former SDP chairman relied on court decisions that did not address the party’s national leadership, expressing confidence that the criminal case would ultimately be determined on the strength of the evidence to be presented before the court.