The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dropped all charges of N1.3 billion fraud levelled against Gbolahan Obanikoro the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dropped all charges of N1.3 billion fraud levelled against Gbolahan Obanikoro the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and four others.
This was revealed via a statement contained in a document dated on Tuesday, February 4.
The document partly read, “Take notice that the prosecution hereby withdraws the above-mentioned charge against the defendants herein.”
The NPF stated the notice of withdrawal submitted is in line with Section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Obanikoro, along with Adejare Adegbenro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, and DDSS International Company Limited, were set to appear before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, February 27 over their involvement in N1,356,057,330.43.
In the case labeled FHC/L/902c/2024, the defendants were charged with conspiracy, obtaining by false pretenses, and participating in a fraud amounting to N1,356,057,330.43.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun through the Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos, had charged all the defendants with conspiring between May and September 2013 to fraudulently acquire the sum of N1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc.
The defendants were accused of deceiving the bank’s staff and officers by claiming they were engaged in importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria, and that the funds were needed to finance the importation of new cars for resale.
They were also charged with converting, transferring, retaining, or taking possession of the money, knowing or having reason to believe it was proceeds from illegal activity.
Furthermore, they were alleged to have illegally converted N1 billion of the bank’s funds for personal use.
When the case was called last month, the prosecutor, M.Y. Bello, informed the court that the hearing was set for the arraignment of all the defendants.
However, he requested a new date to allow all the defendants to be present in court and enter their pleas.
Joshua Abel, counsel for the fourth defendant, told the court that many of the defendants, who were directors, were outside the country.
He stated that only the companies listed in the charge had been served with the charge sheet.
Abel assured the court, however, that all defendants would be present at the next adjourned date to enter their pleas.
In response to the submissions, Justice Lewis-Allagoa postponed the case to Thursday, February 27 for the arraignment of all the defendants.
Meanwhile, there are signs that the hearing to have the case dismissed could take place tomorrow, Friday, February 7.
