Court Arraigns Ex-SDP Chairman Gabam Over Alleged N35m Fraud

•Party Chairman Abubakar Reacts

A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Tuesday arraigned former National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Shehu Gabam, over alleged financial misappropriation and related offences involving more than N35 million belonging to the party.

Gabam was docked alongside Chukwuma Uchechukwu in a criminal matter marked DCC/10/2026 filed before the Federal Capital Territory Chief Magistrate Court.

The charges against the duo border on alleged misappropriation of party funds, forgery and breach of trust said to have occurred during Gabam’s tenure as chairman of the opposition party.

At the hearing, Gabam pleaded not guilty to the six-count charge before the presiding magistrate, Amauche Onyedium.

Following his plea, the court admitted him to bail in the sum of N3 million with two sureties resident within Abuja.

The development is the latest twist in the lingering leadership crisis rocking the SDP following the emergence of Sodiq Abubakar as the party’s new national chairman during its convention held in Bauchi on May 9, 2026.

Speaking after the court session, Abubakar said the legal action was aimed at restoring accountability within the party and protecting it from what he described as external interference.

“We are confident that the judiciary will do justice to our millions of members,” he said.

Abubakar alleged that efforts were previously made to get the Independent National Electoral Commission to investigate and prosecute Gabam over the allegations, but no action was taken.

“Because nothing was done, we decided to approach the court. He squandered the party’s fund in his time between 2022 and 2023,” he alleged.

The internal crisis within the SDP has intensified in recent days, with rival camps trading accusations over the control of the party structure.

At the weekend, suspected loyalists of Gabam allegedly damaged the gate of the party’s national secretariat in Abuja during a confrontation linked to the leadership tussle.

The case was adjourned for further hearing.