The trial of eleven suspects accused of murdering Arise News correspondent Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, has stalled once again at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi, Abuja. This latest delay comes after the lead prosecutor was absent from court, prompting an adjournment of the high-profile case.
The hearing, scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026, could not proceed after Prosecution Counsel Adama Musa failed to appear, reportedly due to his engagement in another matter at a different court. Defence lawyers did not oppose the adjournment request, leading Justice Mohammed Idris to postpone the trial until April 21, 22 and 23, 2026. The judge urged all parties to coordinate more effectively to ensure the trial progresses without further delays and emphasised the need to conclude the matter before year-end.
This is the second interruption in the case within a single week. Earlier, proceedings were halted when the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) failed to produce the defendants in court, with officials claiming they were unaware of the scheduled trial date despite prosecution witnesses being available.
The suspects arraigned on nine counts including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and murder were remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja following their arrest in connection with the robbery attack that left Maduagwu and Danlami dead in September 2025.
The repeated delays have drawn criticism from observers concerned about the timely administration of justice in one of Nigeria’s most watched criminal cases. As the case resumes in April, attention remains fixed on ensuring the proceedings move forward efficiently and that the legal process respects both the rights of the accused and the memory of the victims.
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