Hearing loss stalls trial of Ex-REA Finance Director over alleged N1.84bn diversion

The trial of Abubakar Sambo, former Director of Finance and Accounts at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), was postponed on Tuesday at the Federal High Court in Abuja due to concerns over his declining hearing capacity.

Appearing before Justice Musa Liman, defence counsel and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ishaka Dikko, informed the court that his client was medically unfit to proceed, explaining that Sambo’s hearing had deteriorated to the point where he could only communicate effectively in writing.

Justice Liman requested a formal medical report to support the claim. However, Dikko said he had only just become aware of the severity of the condition and was unable to present the necessary documentation.

Prosecuting counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Osuobeni Akponimisingha, said the prosecution was fully prepared to proceed with a witness in court but raised no objection to the defence’s plea for an adjournment.

The judge subsequently adjourned the trial to 6 November 2025.

Sambo was re-arraigned on 28 January 2025 on a three-count charge related to the alleged diversion of N1.84 billion, purportedly disbursed as unauthorised payments for project supervision.

He entered a not-guilty plea and remains on bail previously granted by Justice Bolaji Olajuwon. The bail conditions include a N200 million bond and sureties possessing property within the jurisdiction of the court.

According to the charges, Sambo, in March 2023, allegedly misused the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform in his capacity as Payment Finaliser, authorising substantial disbursements without proper approvals.

The named beneficiaries of the alleged unauthorised payments are Henrietta Onomen Okojie, Asuni Adejoke Aminat, Usman Kwakwa, Laure Shehu Abdulahi, Emmanuel Pada Titus, and Musa Umar Karaye.

The offences contravene provisions of the Public Enterprise Regulatory Commission Act, the Cybercrimes Act, and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.

Several other individuals linked to the matter have been arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite on separate charges and granted bail set at N50 million each.

The trial will now commence afresh due to the reassignment of Justice Olajuwon from the court division that previously handled the matter.