The police have withdrawn charges against Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four others in an alleged N1.35 billion fraud case involving a bank.
Obanikoro, along with Adejare Adegbenro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, and DDSS International Company Limited, was set to be arraigned before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos on February 27, 2025.
However, in a notice filed under Section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, the police expressed their intention to withdraw the charges.
The withdrawal notice, dated February 4 and signed by Chief Superintendent of Police J.I. Enang, stated:
“Take notice that the prosecution hereby withdraws the above-mentioned charge against the defendants herein.”
No reason was provided for the decision.
The case, marked FHC/L/902c/2024, involved allegations of conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses, and fraud amounting to N1.35 billion. The Inspector-General of Police, through the Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, had accused the defendants of conspiring between May and September 2013 to fraudulently obtain the sum from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank).
They allegedly misrepresented their business as automobile importation from Dubai and claimed the funds were needed to finance the importation of brand-new cars for resale. Instead, they were accused of unlawfully diverting N1 billion of the bank’s money for personal use.
At the previous court session, prosecutor M.Y. Bello informed the court that the case was scheduled for arraignment but requested a new date to ensure all defendants were present to take their pleas. Consequently, Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the matter to February 27.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that a hearing to officially strike out the case may take place today, Friday, February 7, 2025.
