In fresh revelations in the lingering crisis rocking the Social Democratic Party, the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Abubakar Sadiq Gombe, on Monday alleged before journalists that bank statements and other financial documents detailing how party funds were allegedly siphoned had been tendered in court.
Speaking shortly after the proceedings at a Magistrate Court in Abuja, Gombe said the SDP leadership had presented documentary evidence, including bank records, disciplinary committee reports and company registration documents allegedly linked to the laundering of party funds.
According to him, the case before the court was purely criminal, and centered on allegations of financial malfeasance, misappropriation and diversion of party resources by some suspended and expelled officials of the party.
“What took place today in court was that I gave evidence as a witness and we tendered relevant documents including the report of the disciplinary committee, invitation letters sent to the accused persons, bank statements showing debits and credits and documents of companies through which party funds were allegedly siphoned and laundered,” he said.
The SDP chairman disclosed that the matter was traced to June 24, 2025, when the first allegations of financial misappropriation within the party were made.
He said the party subsequently set up a six-man investigative panel headed by Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadiq Liman to look into the allegations.
According to Gombe, the committee sat for 14 days at the party secretariat and invited all accused persons in line with the party constitution.
However, he accused the suspended and expelled National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam of refusing to appear before the panel.
The committee invited all the persons accused. Some showed up including the national auditor who apologised and resigned but the suspended chairman refused to honour the invitation because they believed they were above the law and the constitution of the party,” he alleged.
He further accused some of the affected officials of invading the SDP national secretariat with security operatives and suspected thugs on May 7, allegedly breaking into offices and carting away sensitive documents belonging to the party.
“They broke our gate, invaded offices, including that of the treasurer, financial secretary and national secretary and carted away original party documents,” he alleged.
Gombe also maintained that the National Executive Committee meeting held on March 9, 2026, validly ratified his appointment as SDP national chairman and approved the expulsion of some officials.
The decisions of the NEC, he said, were later certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Efforts by some prominent Nigerians to broker peace in the SDP did not yield any positive result, as some of the accused persons reportedly refused to adhere to the conditions agreed upon for reconciliation,” the SDP chairman said.
