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<p>The <strong>Nigeria Police Force</strong> has dropped the â¦1.3 billion fraud charges against Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of Senator <strong>Musiliu Obanikoro</strong>, along with four other defendants.</p>
<p>According to reports,<strong> Senator Obanikoro, a former Minister and a key member of the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) Governance Advisory Council (GAC),</strong> is also an ally of President Bola Tinubu.</p>
<p>The withdrawal of charges was formally communicated to the Federal High Court in Lagos through a Notice of Withdrawal filed under Section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.</p>
<p>The document, dated February 4, 2025, was signed by Chief Superintendent of Police Justin Enang but did not specify the reason for dropping the case (marked FHC/L/902c/2024). The notice simply stated: <em>“Take notice that the prosecution hereby withdraws the above-mentioned charge against the defendants herein.”</em></p>
<h3>Fraud Allegations and Court Proceedings</h3>
<p>The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigeria Police Force, acting on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, had initially filed a five-count charge against the defendants, including:</p>
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<li>Conspiracy</li>
<li>Obtaining money by false pretenses</li>
<li>False representation</li>
<li>Fraud and money laundering</li>
</ul>
<p>The prosecution alleged that between May and September 2013, the defendants conspired to fraudulently obtain â¦1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank) under false pretenses. They reportedly misrepresented themselves to the bank, claiming they were involved in car importation from Dubai and sought funds to finance the purchase of new vehicles for resale.</p>
<p>Additionally, the defendants were accused of:</p>
<ul>
<li>Converting, transferring, and retaining funds they allegedly knew were proceeds of unlawful activity.</li>
<li>Unlawfully diverting â¦1 billion of the bank’s funds for personal use.</li>
</ul>
<p>The defendants were initially scheduled 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, but Joshua Abel, counsel for the fourth defendant (M.O.B. Integrated Limited), opposed the request. Consequently, the judge rescheduled the arraignment for February 27, 2025.</p>
<p>Following the police’s withdrawal of charges, sources told <em>The PUNCH</em> that the court may hear a motion to strike out the case as early as today (Friday).</p>
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<p><a href="https://www.gistreel.com/police-dismiss-%E2%82%A61-3b-fraud-case-against-son-of-top-lagos-gac-member-four-others/" previewlistener="true">Source link </a></p>

