Former party leader faces charges for alleged misuse of position

The Federal Capital Territory Chief Magistrate Court took action on Tuesday, arraigning Shehu Gabam, the former National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, on allegations of misappropriation, breach of trust, and forgery related to party funds.

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Gabam was brought before Chief Magistrate Amauche Onyedium, alongside the party's former National Youth Leader, Chukwuma Uchechukwu, in suit No. DCC/10/2026, marking a significant development in the case.

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The criminal complaint was filed by Sadiq Gombe, the current SDP National Chairman, under the relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which governs such matters.

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During the hearing, Gabam entered a plea of not guilty to the allegations levelled against him, setting the stage for further proceedings in the case.

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The court subsequently granted Gabam bail in the sum of N3m, with the condition that he provide two sureties who must possess landed property in Abuja, ensuring his release pending the outcome of the case.

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Chief Magistrate Onyedium also ordered Gabam to deposit his international passport with the court registrar, a measure aimed at preventing him from fleeing the country during the trial.

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The matter was then adjourned until May 25 for further hearing, allowing both parties to prepare their arguments and evidence.

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Speaking to journalists after the proceedings, Gombe expressed satisfaction with the court's decision, stating that it was part of efforts to restore accountability and discipline within the opposition party.

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Gombe noted that the leadership had resorted to legal action after petitions submitted to relevant agencies allegedly yielded no response, highlighting the need for a more formal approach to addressing the issues.

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He emphasized that the court action was not a personal matter, but rather an institutional issue, saying "the SDP is an institution governed by law through its constitution, the Electoral Act and the country's constitution."

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Gombe explained that the goal of the current leadership was to "cleanse the party and reset it" to make it corruption-free, a necessary step before presenting candidates for various offices.

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He pointed out that if the party aimed to present candidates for positions such as president, governors, senators, and councillors, it was essential to ensure that the party itself was free from corruption.

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Gombe revealed that an audit report had been submitted to INEC, which disclosed that during the period under review, the party had only N32m, of which N31m was squandered, highlighting the extent of the financial mismanagement.

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The internal crisis within the SDP had deepened in October 2025, after Gabam, Uchechukwu, and the party's National Auditor, Clarkson Nnadi, were expelled over allegations of misconduct and financial impropriety.

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Following the allegations, the party had constituted an independent disciplinary committee to investigate the matter and submit recommendations to the leadership, which later adopted the committee's white paper and formally announced the expulsion of Gabam and Uchechukwu.

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The decision to expel Gabam and Uchechukwu had been endorsed by the party's 36 state chairmen, demonstrating a unified stance on the matter.

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The current leadership of the party maintained that the court action was aimed at restoring transparency, accountability, and discipline within the SDP, essential values for a political party.