Kehinde Fajobi
The Nigeria Police Force has withdrawn fraud charges against Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro and four others in a case involving alleged ₦1.3 billion fraud with Access Bank.
Obanikoro, along with Adejare Adegbenro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, and DDSS International Company Limited, was set for arraignment before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa at the Federal High Court in Lagos on February 27, 2025.
The Federal High Court had initially scheduled the arraignment after the suspects were accused of conspiring to fraudulently obtain ₦1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank between May and September 2013.
They were also accused of misrepresenting their business activities to bank officials, claiming they needed the funds to import cars from Dubai for resale in Nigeria.
However, in a statement issued Thursday, the police informed the court of its decision to withdraw the charges under Section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, without providing any reason for the withdrawal.
The document, signed by Chief Superintendent of Police J. I. Enang, read: “Take notice that the prosecution hereby withdraws the above-mentioned charge against the defendants herein.”
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The defendants were initially accused of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, and converting N1 billion from the bank for personal use. The Inspector General of Police had filed the charges through the Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Though the case had been scheduled for arraignment, the prosecutor, M.Y. Bello, had requested a new date for the defendants’ appearance, as some were abroad. Justice Lewis-Allagoa adjourned the case to February 27. However, there were indications that the case might be struck out on Friday.