A Chief Magistrates’ Court in the Federal Capital Territory on Tuesday remanded a former National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, over allegations bordering on criminal misappropriation of funds, breach of trust and forgery involving party finances.
Gabam was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Amauche Onyedium alongside Chukwuma Ogbonna Uchechukwu in suit number DCC/10/2026.
The direct criminal complaint was filed by the current SDP National Chairman, Dr Sadiq Abubakar, under provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
At the resumed proceedings, counsel to the complainant told the court that the prosecution required more time to respond to the bail application filed by the defendants.
The court, however, granted Gabam bail in the sum of N3m with two sureties who must own landed property within Abuja.
Chief Magistrate Onyedium also directed the former SDP chairman to deposit his international passport with the court registrar pending the conclusion of the trial.
The case was subsequently adjourned till May 25 for further hearing.
Speaking with journalists after the court session, Abubakar said the party resorted to legal action after several petitions submitted to relevant agencies allegedly yielded no result.
He stated that the party had earlier forwarded bank statements and other financial records to the Independent National Electoral Commission, urging the commission to investigate the alleged financial irregularities.
According to him, an audit report prepared during the former leadership showed that the party generated N32m within the period under review, out of which nearly N31m was allegedly mismanaged.
Abubakar further alleged that party officials later uncovered documents relating to two bank accounts said to contain transactions worth about N740m.
He said the discovery raised fresh concerns over transparency and accountability in the management of the party’s funds.
The SDP chairman also alleged that petitions had been forwarded to the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and the Department of State Services, but no decisive action was taken.
He noted that the party subsequently initiated direct criminal proceedings before the court.
Gabam, Uchechukwu and the party’s National Auditor, Clarkson Nnadi, were suspended by the SDP on June 24, 2025, over alleged misconduct and financial impropriety.
An independent disciplinary committee was later set up to investigate the allegations and submit its findings to the party leadership.
Following the adoption of the committee’s white paper by the National Working Committee, the party announced the expulsion of Gabam and Uchechukwu over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Some SDP state chairmen had also supported the expulsions, accusing the former leadership of diverting nearly N1bn belonging to the party.
The current leadership of the party maintained that the court action was aimed at promoting accountability, transparency and discipline within the SDP.
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