A political storm has erupted within the opposition camp as a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, ordered the remand of former Social Democratic Party (SDP) National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, over allegations of criminal breach of trust, forgery and the alleged diversion of party funds amounting to about N740 million.
Gabam was dragged before the court alongside Chukwuma Ogbonna and Uchechukwu in suit number DCC/10/2026 following a direct criminal complaint instituted by the current SDP National Chairman, Sadiq Abubakar.
The matter, which has further deepened the internal crisis rocking the SDP, was heard before Chief Magistrate Amauche Onyedium under provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
During proceedings, counsel to the complainant informed the court that the prosecution required more time to properly respond to the bail applications filed by the defendants.
After listening to submissions from both parties, the court granted Gabam bail in the sum of N3 million with two sureties who must own landed property within Abuja. The court also ordered the former SDP chairman to surrender his international passport to the court registrar pending the conclusion of the trial.
The case was adjourned until May 25 for further hearing.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the session, Abubakar accused the former leadership of operating secret financial channels allegedly used to divert party funds without accountability.
According to him, the party initially discovered through an internal audit that only about N32 million was officially declared within the period under investigation, with nearly N31 million allegedly mismanaged.
However, he alleged that party officials later uncovered documents linked to two separate bank accounts through which transactions worth approximately N740 million were allegedly conducted outside official party records.
The SDP chairman claimed the shocking discovery forced the party leadership to petition several security and anti-corruption agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service, but alleged that none of the agencies took decisive action.
According to him, the party was left with no option but to initiate direct criminal proceedings before the court.
Chronicles Reporters gathered that Gabam’s legal troubles began after his suspension by the SDP on June 24, 2025, alongside the party’s National Youth Leader, Uchechukwu Ogbonna, and National Auditor, Clarkson Nnadi, over allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office.
An independent disciplinary committee was later constituted by the party to investigate the allegations before submitting its report to the National Working Committee.
Following the committee’s findings, the SDP leadership reportedly adopted a white paper which eventually led to the expulsion of Gabam and Uchechukwu over what the party described as gross misconduct and financial impropriety.
Several SDP state chairmen had also backed the expulsions, accusing the former leadership of allegedly diverting close to N1 billion belonging to the opposition party.
The latest court action has now thrown the SDP into fresh controversy ahead of major political activities, with many observers describing the scandal as one of the biggest internal corruption crises ever witnessed within the party.