The Nigeria Police Force has dropped a fraud allegation against Mr. Gbolahan Obanikoro and four others for allegedly defrauding Access Bank of N1.3 billion.
Obanikoro, Adejare Adegbenro, Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, and DDSS International Company Limited were scheduled for arraignment before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos on February 27.
Chronicle NG reports that the Federal High Court in Lagos had on Jan 31, 2025, fixed February 27, 2025, for the arraignment of Gbolahan Obanikoro, the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four others for alleged N1,356,057,330.43 fraud.
According to a statement cited by Chronicle NG on Thursday, the police used Section 108(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, to withdraw the charge against the defendants.
The document, signed by Chief Superintendent of Police J. I. Enang on February 4, stated, “Take notice that the prosecution hereby withdraws the above-mentioned charge against the defendants.”
The defendants were accused of conspiracy, acquiring under false pretences, and participating in an N1,356,057,330.43 scam in the suit designated FHC/L/902c/2024.
The Inspector General of Police, acting through the Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos, accused the defendants of plotting between May and September 2013 to fraudulently collect N1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank).
They allegedly misrepresented themselves to the bank’s employees and officers, alleging that they were in the business of importing automobiles from Dubai for sale in Nigeria and that the funds were required to finance the purchase of a set of brand-new cars for resale.
The defendants were also charged with converting, transferring, keeping, or taking possession of the funds while knowing or having reason to know that they were the profits of illegal activities.
They were also accused of illegally converting N1 billion from the bank’s accounts for personal gain.
When the matter came up last month, the prosecutor, M.Y. Bello, notified the court that all defendants were due to be arraigned.
However, he requested a new date so that all defendants could appear in court and enter their pleas.
