Court Orders Oba Otudeko to Appear for Arraignment Over Alleged ₦12.3 Billion Fraud Case
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos has directed Honeywell Group Chairman, Oba Otudeko, to appear for arraignment over an alleged ₦12.3 billion fraud case filed by the EFCC. The case also involves former First Bank MD Olabisi Onasanya and other defendants.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, March 17, 2025, ordered the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, to appear in court for his arraignment over an alleged N12.3 billion fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Otudeko was to be arraigned alongside a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya, a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo, and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited, on a 13-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N12.3 billion.
The defendants, however, are seeking to evade their arraignment by filing preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try them. Justice Aneke had, at the sitting on February 13, 2025, adjourned the case till Monday, March 17, 2025, for a ruling on the application filed by Otudeko, which challenged the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the multiple fraud charges filed against him by the EFCC.
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At Monday’s sitting, counsel to Otudeko, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, informed the court that counsel from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) convened a meeting on March 12, 2025, which was also attended by the nominal complainant. He further stated that substantial progress was made regarding the matter during the meeting.
Otudeko’s counsel also revealed that it was agreed by all parties that no further processes should be filed in the matter after the court’s ruling on Monday. He added that the next meeting in the AGF’s office was scheduled for April 9, 2025, and requested a court date after that, depending on the meeting’s outcome.
In response, counsel to the EFCC, Bilkisu Buhari, confirmed the development but prayed the court to adjourn the matter for an arraignment or a report on the settlement.
In his ruling, Justice Aneke held that the arraignment of the defendants should take place before the hearing of all pending preliminary objections. Consequently, the judge adjourned the case till May 8, 2025, for the parties to report on the settlement.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
March 18, 2025
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