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Nigerians React As ₦1.3 Billion Fraud Charges Dropped Against Influential Lagos GAC Member’s Son, Sparks Outrage
The Nigeria Police Force has formally withdrawn the ₦1.3 billion fraud case against Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, along with four other individuals.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Senator Obanikoro, a former Minister and current member of the powerful Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC), is known to be a close ally of President Bola Tinubu.
The withdrawal was communicated to the Federal High Court in Lagos via a Notice of Withdrawal filed under Section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. The document, dated February 4, 2025, and signed by Chief Superintendent of Police Justin Enang, provided no explanation for the decision to drop the charges (case number FHC/L/902c/2024).
The notice briefly stated: “Take notice that the prosecution hereby withdraws the above-mentioned charge against the defendants herein.”
The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force, acting under the directive of the Inspector General of Police, had initially filed a five-count charge against the defendants. The charges included conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, false representation, fraud, and money laundering.
According to the police, between May and September 2013, the defendants conspired to fraudulently obtain ₦1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank) under false pretenses. They allegedly misled the bank by claiming to be engaged in car importation from Dubai for resale in Nigeria, using this as justification to secure financing for vehicle imports.
Further allegations stated that the defendants:
- Converted, transferred, and retained the funds, fully aware they were proceeds from unlawful activities.
- Illegally diverted ₦1 billion of the bank’s funds for personal use.
The defendants were slated for arraignment on January 26, 2025, before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa but failed to appear in court. The prosecution, led by Momoh Bello, sought a bench warrant to compel their attendance. However, Joshua Abel, representing the fourth defendant, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, opposed this request.
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