The Nigeria Police Force has officially dropped the ₦1.3 billion fraud charges against Gbolahan Obanikoro, the son of former Minister and Lagos politician, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, along with four other defendants. The decision to withdraw the charges has generated widespread reactions, given the high-profile nature of the case.
Reports indicate that Senator Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence and a senior member of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governance Advisory Council (GAC), has strong political ties. He is also a known ally of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, further fueling speculation about the reasons behind the case dismissal.
The notice of withdrawal was officially submitted to the Federal High Court in Lagos through a legal document filed under Section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. The notice, dated February 4, 2025, was signed by Chief Superintendent of Police Justin Enang. However, the document did not provide any specific explanation for the abrupt decision to drop the case, which was previously registered under charge number FHC/L/902c/2024.
A statement within the notice read: “Take notice that the prosecution hereby withdraws the above-mentioned charge against the defendants herein.” This brief statement has left many questioning the circumstances surrounding the case withdrawal.
Fraud Allegations and Court Proceedings
Prior to the case being withdrawn, the defendants were facing serious fraud allegations. The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force, acting under the directive of the Inspector General of Police, had filed a comprehensive five-count charge against them. The charges included:
Conspiracy
Obtaining money by false pretenses
False representation
Fraud and money laundering
According to the prosecution, between May and September 2013, the accused individuals engaged in fraudulent activities, leading to the unlawful acquisition of ₦1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank). The prosecution alleged that the defendants misrepresented themselves to the bank, claiming they were involved in car importation from Dubai and required funding to facilitate the purchase of new vehicles for resale.
Further accusations against the defendants included:
Converting, transferring, and retaining funds that were allegedly obtained through fraudulent means.
Unlawfully diverting ₦1 billion of the bank’s funds for personal and unauthorized use.
The defendants were initially scheduled to be arraigned on January 26, 2025, before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa. However, they failed to appear in court on that date. This prompted the prosecution, led by Momoh Bello, to request a bench warrant to compel their presence. In response, Joshua Abel, legal counsel for one of the defendants, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, opposed the bench warrant request.
Due to these developments, the judge rescheduled the arraignment for February 27, 2025, to allow for further legal proceedings. However, with the police now withdrawing the case, there are indications that the court may move to strike out the case altogether.
According to sources close to the case, the court is expected to hear a motion regarding the case dismissal as early as today (Friday). Legal analysts suggest that this decision could either mark the end of the legal battle or open doors for further scrutiny, depending on whether the case dismissal faces any objections from concerned parties.
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