The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2 heard a case involving former Social Democratic Party (SDP) chairman Shehu Gabam and the party’s current leader, Sodiq Abubakar. The matter, filed under case number DCC/10/2026, alleges that Gabam and associate Chukwuma Uchechukwu misappropriated more than N35 million belonging to the SDP, committed forgery and breached the trust of party members.
During the hearing, Gabam entered a plea of not guilty before Magistrate Amauche Onyedium. The court granted him bail of N3 million, secured by two sureties residing in Abuja.
Abubakar, addressing the magistrate, said the party had previously sought the intervention of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute Gabam, but that request yielded no action. Consequently, the SDP resorted to the judiciary to hold the former chairman accountable. “We are confident the judiciary will deliver justice for our members,” he asserted, adding that Gabam allegedly squandered party funds between 2022 and 2023.
The dispute follows Abubakar’s election as SDP national chairman at the party’s convention in Bauchi on 9 May 2026. Tensions escalated over the weekend when individuals believed to be loyal to Gabam vandalised the gate of the SDP’s national secretariat.
The case underscores internal strife within the SDP and highlights the party’s recourse to legal mechanisms to address alleged financial misconduct. The magistrate’s decision to release Gabam on bail leaves the proceedings pending further investigation and trial. Future court dates will determine whether the charges lead to conviction or dismissal, an outcome that could have ramifications for the party’s governance and its standing among members.
