By Jako Keke, [Jalingo Times], October 7, 2026.
The Upper Area Court No. 7, sitting in Jalingo, Taraba State, has discharged and acquitted Taraba-based journalist and businessman, Mr. Gabriel Motunrayo Olayinka, of allegations bordering on criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The court, presided over by Hon. Lawan Jika, delivered the ruling on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, following a preliminary objection filed by the defence challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Olayinka was standing trial following a complaint by Mr. Danladi Jibrin, who alleged that he committed criminal breach of trust and cheating in connection with a financial transaction reportedly involving about ₦300 million, linked to Taraba Business School and other business activities.
Defence counsel, Barrister L.L Takdok of P.D. Pius & Co., told Taraba News after the proceedings that the preliminary objection was anchored on several grounds, including the argument that the dispute was essentially civil in nature and ought not to have been instituted as a criminal matter.
He also challenged the jurisdiction of the Upper Area Court, explaining that the case was originally filed before a Chief Magistrate Court before subsequently coming before the Upper Area Court.
During the proceedings, counsel to the complainant, Barrister D. G. Tukuri, consented to the preliminary objection on the ground relating to the original filing of the case before the Chief Magistrate Court.
Ruling on the objection, Hon. Jika noted that the jurisdiction of the court had been challenged and that the complainant's counsel had consented to the objection concerning the original filing of the matter.
The judge consequently ordered that the case instituted by Danladi Jibrin against Olayinka Gabriel be struck out.
The court declared the case “hereby struck out” and subsequently discharged Olayinka from the criminal allegations of breach of trust and cheating and acquitted him.
The decision effectively ends the criminal proceedings against Olayinka before Upper Area Court No. 7, although further legal options available to the parties under the law remain open.
The case had earlier witnessed the appearance of representatives of financial institutions after the court ordered Zenith Bank, Globus Bank and OPay Microfinance Bank to produce financial records relevant to the proceedings.
Representatives of Zenith Bank and Globus Bank appeared before the court and tendered the subpoenaed documents, while an OPay representative also appeared and produced the requested records.
At one stage, defence counsel, Barrister P. D. Pius, sought permission to cross-examine the OPay representative after the witness had taken an oath.
However, Barrister Tukuri objected, arguing that a witness summoned merely to tender documents under subpoena could not be subjected to cross-examination.
Hon. Jika upheld the objection and discharged the OPay representative from the witness box.
The court subsequently fixed August 5, 2026, for continuation of proceedings and adoption of the final witness, identified as the complainant, Mr. Danladi Jibrin.
Olayinka had consistently denied the allegations and maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
The case attracted public attention, particularly over the financial allegations involved and the period the journalist reportedly spent in custody.
With Wednesday's ruling, the Upper Area Court No. 7 has brought the criminal proceedings against Olayinka to an end.
The defence counsel, Barrister Takoq, described the outcome as a consequence of the jurisdictional objection raised by the defence, particularly the circumstances surrounding the original filing of the case.
The ruling means that Olayinka was not convicted of the criminal allegations before the court and has been discharged and acquitted.
Comments
Post a Comment