Lawyers protest stall arraignment of Otudeko, Onasanya

Ogunsakin Mustapha
4 Min Read
Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Honeywell Group

By Elizabeth Eze

The bid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arraign the Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudekomd the former Managing Director of First Bank PLC, Mr Olabisi Onasanya before a Federal High Court on Monday did not succeed as lawyers to the defendants protested that the anti corruption agency did not serve them the relevant court papers.

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Counsels to defendants in a N12.3 billion charge against Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko and others, on Monday, announced their appearances in protest of the charge.

EFCC preferred a 13-count charge against Otudeko, and a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya. Also charged is a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd.

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The charge is marked FHC/L/20C/2025. The defendants were accused of allegedly obtaining N12.3billion from First Bank under pretence.

When the case was called Counsel to Otudeko, Mr Bode Olanipekun (SAN), informed the court that he was appearing in protest in the case, as the charge has not been served on his client.

Mr Olumide Fusika (SAN) announced appearance for the second defendant and informed the court that he had a copy of the charge, which he printed online.

Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) appeared for the third defendant while Mr Adeogun Philips (SAN) announced appearance for the fourth defendant in protest.

Philips also informed the court that his appearance was in protest as his client was never served with any charge.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke then raised a question as to the appearance of all defence counsel in court, if they claim the defendants had not been served.

In response, Olanipekun told the court that on Jan. 17, the media was agog with screaming headlines, indicating that the defendants were to be arraigned on Monday. He showed to the court several national dailies with the report, and also read out portions of the report, showing that the defendants were to appear before Justice Aneke.

He described such conduct as being most unfair, especially as no charge was served on his client.

In response, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) told the court that efforts had being made, to effect service on the defendants without success.

Oyedepo, consequently told the court that the prosecution had a motion for substituted service, at the last known addresses of these defendants. He prayed the court to move his application, and the court granted same.

After moving his application, second defence counsel informed the court that he is willing to undertake service of the charge for his client, since he had already taken steps to print same.

Following a directive by the court to issue service on the second defence counsel who had indicated willingness to accept same, the prosecutor handed Fusika a copy of the charge in court.

The court, consequently, adjourned the case until Feb. 13, for arraignment of the defendants.

The EFCC alleges offences were committed between 2013 and 2014 in tranches of N5.2 billion, N6.2 billion, N6.1 billion, N1.5 billion and N500 million.

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