Toba Owojaiye reporting
Lagos, Nigeria
The Federal High Court in Lagos has mandated Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, to appear for arraignment concerning a ₦12.3 billion fraud case initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke issued this directive on Monday, emphasizing that Otudeko must be present to enter his plea before any jurisdictional challenges can be addressed. Some of the charges state:
“That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO, AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED, on or about the 26th day of November 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to use the total sum of N6,150,000,000 (Six Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only), which you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities, to wit: Obtaining by False Pretence. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18(a) and 15(2)(C) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
Truth Live News gathered that EFCC has filed a 13-count charge against Otudeko, alongside former First Bank Managing Director Olabisi Onasanya, ex-Honeywell board member Soji Akintayo, and Anchorage Leisure Limited. The charges encompass allegations of fraudulently obtaining ₦12.3 billion from First Bank through various transactions between 2013 and 2014. Specific accusations include securing ₦6.2 billion, ₦1.5 billion, and other sums under the guise of loans purportedly for companies like V-Tech Dynamic Links Limited and Stallion Nigeria Limited.
During the proceedings, Otudeko’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed the court that discussions for a potential settlement are underway under the supervision of the Attorney General of the Federation. However, Justice Aneke maintained that Otudeko must first be arraigned before any such applications or discussions can proceed.
But EFCC counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN objected, accusing the defence of attempting to stall the arraignment.
“The application is incurably defective. It is dead on arrival. I should not dignify an illegality. The law says you can’t raise it.
“I urge the court to adjourn for arraignment and then after the plea of the defendant, objections can be raised.
“Except there is an amendment to Section 396 of ACJA, I urge your lordship not to accede to the request of the defence,” Oyedepo stated and the court adjourned for a ruling
Ruling on the application challenging jurisdiction, the judge said Otudeko must be arraigned before an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction on the case can be decided.
“This court is also bound by the cited decisions. So I agree with the prosecution that based on the current state of the law, no application by the defendant in the criminal matter can be taken or determined by the court before arraignment,” the judge said, as quoted by the Cable.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to May 8th for the arraignment.
Otudeko’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN), informed Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court Lagos on Monday that “parties were exploring a settlement”, in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
If the settlement scales through, the court will adopt the agreement by the parties as its judgment in the case.