Justice Ogbonnaya Continues Trial Without Defense Counsel

On March 25, 2026, Justice Ogbonnaya of the High Court in the Federal Capital Territory dismissed a recusal application and decided to proceed with the trial of Alhaji Moham Danjuma and Princ Chibuik Echem, who are facing charges of conspiracy and inducement to forgery brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The defense counsel abandoned the case, citing several grievances, including issues with bail applications and the refusal to release certified true copies of court documents.

Justice Ogbonnaya noted that the release of these documents was an administrative matter and attributed delays to court errors. Despite the absence of legal representation for the defendants, she insisted that the case would continue as scheduled.

The Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory had previously sought to reassign the case, but it was ultimately returned to Justice Ogbonnaya for trial. The next hearing is set for March 26, 2026.