Trial Stalls Again as EFCC Custody Delays Arraignment of Identity Theft Suspect Sylvanus Okoh

Luka Soto

The much-anticipated prosecution of Mr. Sylvanus Enonche Okoh, accused of identity theft, fraud, and criminal conspiracy, suffered another setback yesterday as the second defendant in the case failed to appear in court, leading to yet another postponement of proceedings.

Mr. Okoh, who also goes by the alias Kenneth Ogbogu, is currently being held by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on related financial crime charges. However, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigeria Police Force, which is spearheading the prosecution, was unable to present him in court due to custody complications.

Sources close to the investigation revealed that the Police now require formal cooperation with the EFCC to secure the temporary release of Okoh for arraignment in the identity theft case. In addition to the EFCC’s probe, the suspect is under a parallel investigation by the State Intelligence Department (SID) of the FCT Police Command for alleged offenses including forgery, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy.

A senior police official, who spoke to TruthNigeria on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the current delay is rooted in inter-agency administrative hurdles. “This is not a matter of unwillingness to prosecute,” he said. “But we need the EFCC’s formal cooperation to have Mr. Okoh appear in court, as he is involved in overlapping investigations.”

The absence of Mr. Okoh—seen as central to the case—has left the complainants and their legal team increasingly frustrated. The victim’s family has raised concerns over the repeated adjournments, fearing they may embolden the accused and weaken the impact of the legal process.

“This kind of delay sends the wrong signal to other potential offenders,” said Luka Soto, co-author of this report and a legal correspondent. “When agencies fail to coordinate, justice is not only delayed but potentially denied.”

Legal analysts warn that high-profile fraud and identity theft cases such as this could lose public confidence if law enforcement bodies fail to align their efforts in a timely and transparent manner.

Court officials have not issued a new trial date, pending confirmation of the defendant’s availability. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting from civil society and legal advocacy groups urging the EFCC and the Police to streamline their collaboration to ensure that Okoh is produced in court without further delays.

The matter is expected to return to court as soon as inter-agency arrangements are finalized.