By Jude Opara
The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prof. Sadiq Gombe, has expressed confidence in the prosecution of an alleged financial fraud involving some former party officials even as the court failed to sit on Monday and adjournment proceedings to August 17, 2026.
Addressing newsmen at the court premises, Gombe said the matter could not proceed because the court announced it would not be sitting, which prompted parties to agree on a new date for hearing.
“Today is the 20th of July, 2026. We came to court early enough. Unfortunately, the court announced that it was not sitting due to unforeseen circumstances and apologised. We have now taken August 17 as the next adjourned date for the prosecution of the accused to continue,” he said.
On concerns that the case had lingered for too long with several adjournments, Gombe stated that the delay had nothing to do with lack of diligence on the part of the prosecution.
He said; “As a matter of fact, there wasn’t a time the court did not sit from the commencement of this case until today. We have always been present in court with our lawyers. Even Zenith Bank officials came with the requested statement of account, but because the court was not sitting, they had to leave with the document and return on the next adjourned date”.
The SDP boss explained that the prosecution had assembled substantial evidence to support allegations of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation, malfeasance and other financial crimes against the accused.
“We have done our part by ensuring that all necessary evidence is available. One of the most important pieces of evidence is the Zenith Bank statement of account, which we intend to tender. We remain hopeful that on the next adjourned date, the court will receive the document and other witnesses,” he stated.
Gombe added that a review of the party’s 2024 bank statement allegedly exposed suspicious financial transactions, including repeated payments to an individual who had no official responsibility over the party’s finances.
“If you examine the 2024 statement of account, you will discover that one individual received payments 75 times within a single year. On average, that amounts to about five payments every month. In some instances, three or four payments were made to the same person in one day, despite the fact that he was neither a contractor nor a treasurer but merely a youth leader. It is astonishing,” he alleged.
According to him, the party’s current leadership was determined to sanitise the SDP by ensuring accountability and transparency at all levels of administration.
“We embarked on cleansing the party because political parties are the foundation of democracy. If criminals occupy leadership positions within political parties, they will inevitably produce candidates of similar character. Nigeria can only get it right when political parties are led by people with integrity, patriotism and competence,” he said.
The National Chairman equally urged the judiciary to ensure that politically related criminal cases were concluded in good time ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Our prayer is that the judiciary will continue to do the needful by concluding these cases so that criminal elements within the political process are identified and held accountable. That will serve as a deterrent and strengthen our democratic institutions,” he added.
Reacting to the rumour that the former National Chairman, Shehu Musa Gabam had been restored to office, Gombe insisted that the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) validly removed and expelled him, adding that under the Electoral Act leadership matters remained the exclusive internal affairs of political parties.
“INEC does not determine who leads a political party, neither do the courts. On March 9, 2026, our National Executive Committee, which is the highest administrative organ of the party, suspended and subsequently expelled Shehu Musa Gabam and another official. That decision stands,” he said.
Gombe further stressed that the Supreme Court had consistently held that courts should not interfere in the internal affairs of political parties, even as he added that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) monitored the party’s NEC meeting and later certified that it complied with the Electoral Act.
He accused Gabam of misleading a Federal High Court over issues that had already been settled, insisting that the ongoing legal disputes would not alter the party’s leadership structure.
“We have confidence in the judiciary and believe justice will prevail. Our focus is to strengthen the party and ensure credible leadership capable of producing candidates like our presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo who can move Nigeria forward,” Gombe concluded.
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