6th February 2025
Police Withdraw N1.3bn Fraud Charges Against Gbolahan Obanikoro, Others
The Nigeria Police Force has withdrawn fraud charges against Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of former Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four others over an alleged N1.3 billion fraud involving Access Bank. The defendants, including Adejare Adegbenro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, and DDSS International Company Limited, were scheduled for arraignment on February 27 before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The police, in a notice dated February 4 and signed by Chief Superintendent J. I. Enang, informed the court of their decision to withdraw the charges but did not provide any reason.
The case, marked FHC/L/902c/2024, accused the defendants of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses, and unlawfully converting N1.3 billion from Access Bank (formerly Diamond Bank) between May and September 2013. They allegedly misrepresented themselves as car importers needing funds for vehicle shipments from Dubai but diverted the money for personal use.
During a prior hearing, the prosecutor, M.Y. Bello, requested an adjournment to allow all defendants to appear in court for their arraignment. Counsel for the fourth defendant, Joshua Abel, noted that some defendants were outside the country and had yet to be served with the charge sheet. The court subsequently adjourned the case to February 27.
However, with the police withdrawing the charges, there are indications that the court may officially strike out the case in a hearing expected to hold on Friday.
