Court Discharges, Acquits Olayinka Gabriel of Criminal Charges

The Upper Area Court No. 7 sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, presided over by Hon. Lawan Jika, has struck out the criminal case against Taraba-based journalist and businessman, Mr. Gabriel Motunrayo Olayinka, and discharged and acquitted him of the allegations of criminal breach of trust and cheating brought against him.

The ruling was delivered on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following a preliminary objection filed by the defence challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case.

Speaking to newsmen after the proceedings, defence counsel from P.D. Pius & Co., Barrister L. Takoq, explained that the defence had brought a preliminary objection before the court challenging its jurisdiction on several grounds.

According to him, one of the grounds was that the matter was civil in nature and ought not to have been instituted as a criminal case.

He explained that another ground of the objection was that the case was originally filed before a Chief Magistrate Court, but was subsequently being handled by an Upper Area Court, raising questions regarding the jurisdiction of the court.

During the proceedings, counsel to the complainant, Barrister D. G. Tukuri, consented to the preliminary objection specifically on the ground that the case had initially been filed before the Chief Magistrate Court.

Barrister Tukuri consequently agreed that the case should be struck out on that ground.

THE COURT'S RULING

Delivering his ruling, Hon. Lawan Jika noted that a preliminary objection had been raised challenging the jurisdiction of the court and that counsel to the complainant had consented to the objection on the issue concerning the original filing of the case before the Chief Magistrate Court.

The judge subsequently ruled that the case brought before him by Mr. Danladi Jibrin against Mr. Olayinka Gabriel be struck out.

In the words of the court, the case was “hereby struck out,” while Mr. Gabriel Motunrayo Olayinka was discharged of the criminal allegations of breach of trust and cheating and acquitted by the court.

The ruling effectively brings the criminal proceedings before the Upper Area Court No. 7 to an end.

 

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

The case arose from a complaint by Mr. Danladi Jibrin, who alleged that Olayinka was involved in criminal breach of trust and cheating relating to a financial transaction reportedly involving approximately ₦300 million and connected to Taraba Business School and other business activities.

Olayinka had consistently denied the allegations and maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.

The matter had attracted public attention, particularly because of the period Olayinka spent in custody and the financial allegations at the centre of the case.

PROSECUTION'S EVIDENCE

During the proceedings, the prosecution sought financial records relating to Olayinka's business activities.

The court ordered representatives of Zenith Bank, Globus Bank and OPay Microfinance Bank to produce relevant financial records connected with the matter.

Zenith Bank and Globus Bank subsequently appeared before the court and tendered the subpoenaed documents.

An OPay representative also appeared and tendered the requested documents after the court ordered the bank's representative to comply with the subpoena.

At one stage of the proceedings, defence counsel, Barrister P. D. Pius, sought permission to cross-examine the OPay representative after the witness had taken an oath.

Counsel to the complainant, Barrister D. G. Tukuri, opposed the application, arguing that a witness summoned solely to tender documents under subpoena could not be cross-examined.

Hon. Lawan Jika upheld the objection and discharged the bank representative from the witness box.

The court subsequently fixed August 5, 2026, for continuation of the hearing and adoption of the final witness, identified in reports as the complainant, Mr. Danladi Jibrin.

 

DISCHARGE AND ACQUITTAL

Following the preliminary objection and the consent of counsel to the complainant on the jurisdictional issue, the court struck out the case.

Hon. Lawan Jika consequently discharged Gabriel Motunrayo Olayinka from the criminal allegations of breach of trust and cheating and acquitted him.

The ruling brings to a close the criminal proceedings against Olayinka before the Upper Area Court No. 7, subject to any further legal steps that may be available to the parties under the law.

For Olayinka, the ruling marks the end of a prolonged criminal proceeding arising from the financial allegations brought against him.

The defence counsel, Barrister L. Takoq of P.D. Pius & Co., described the ruling as the outcome of the jurisdictional objection raised by the defence, particularly the circumstances surrounding the filing and transfer of the case.

The court's decision means that Olayinka was not convicted of the criminal allegations brought before the court and has been discharged and acquainted