Prof. Sadiq Abubakar, National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has clarified why the Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, postponed the fraud trial involving the party’s former leader, Shehu Musa Gabam, until August 17, 2026. While Gabam was slated to face allegations regarding the misappropriation of over N34 million on Monday, the proceedings were halted because the court did not convene due to unexpected issues.
Abubakar stated that the court expressed regret for the cancellation and selected the new August date for the trial to resume. He dismissed claims that the case has been sluggish, highlighting that the prosecution, their legal counsel, and officials from Zenith Bank were all present at the court early in the morning. Zenith Bank had been subpoenaed to submit relevant financial records, which they were forced to take back after the sitting was cancelled.
The SDP chairman emphasized that the party has gathered robust evidence, including bank statements, to support charges of criminal breach of trust and financial malfeasance. He particularly pointed to suspicious 2024 records showing that a youth leader, who held no financial authority, received 75 payments from the party throughout that year. Abubakar maintained that this legal action is a necessary step to foster accountability within the organization.
Addressing rumors regarding Gabam’s potential return to the chairmanship, Abubakar reaffirmed that the National Executive Committee had expelled Gabam on March 9, 2026. He insisted that this internal disciplinary action is final and that party leadership decisions remain independent of external entities like INEC or the judiciary.
