An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court has dismissed a criminal complaint against Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, the National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), regarding alleged misappropriation of party funds. The ruling was delivered by Magistrate Amauche Onyedum at the Wuse Zone 2 court, which stated that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

The complaint was brought forth by Dr. Sodiq Umar Abubakar, a prominent member of the SDP, who accused Gabam and another party member, Chukwuma Ogbonna Okechukwu, of breaching trust in relation to the party's financial dealings. The allegations stemmed from a report by the SDP's disciplinary committee, which purportedly found that the defendants conspired to divert funds belonging to the party.

Abubakar initiated the complaint on January 15, 2026, claiming that Gabam authorized transactions and payments without following due process, resulting in the misappropriation of party funds. During the proceedings, Abubakar appeared as the first prosecution witness, presenting his witness statement and supporting documents to the court.

However, after reviewing the case, Magistrate Onyedum raised concerns about the court's authority to adjudicate on the matter. He emphasized that the allegations involved internal party affairs and financial transactions that required a more comprehensive examination of the SDP's internal processes and financial records. The court noted that determining the case would necessitate an evaluation of the responsibilities of the party's leadership and whether the defendants acted in accordance with the SDP constitution.

The court referenced the case of Tumbido v. INEC (2023) to highlight the autonomy of political parties in managing their internal affairs, concluding that such matters should be addressed in a High Court rather than a Magistrate Court.

Legal representation for the complainant was provided by Sandra Agba, while Yahaya Mukaila Mavo defended Gabam and Okechukwu. With the dismissal of the case, the court has effectively shifted the focus back to the SDP's internal mechanisms and governance, leaving the allegations unresolved but outside the purview of the current court system.