Nigerian business titan, Dr. Ayoola Oba Otudeko through his General Counsel, Olasumbo Abolaji has refuted claims that he’s hiding to avoid questioning.

According to a statement released by General Counsel, 81 year old Otudeko expressed determination in defending his hard earned integrity and reputation following an allegation of his involvement in First Bank’s $600m oil debt.

“As he has done in the past, Dr Oba Otudeko is always ready and available to assist any government agency with appropriate oversight in the execution of their duties, with the expectation that these affairs will be conducted with the highest standard of professionalism. Dr. Oba Otudeko is confident that the truth will prevail in due course and looks forward to addressing these claims in the appropriate forum.”

In the same vein, Dr Otudeko’s lawyers, who duly represented him in court, have expressed their determination to continue to defend his integrity and protect his name and investments in the face of a seeming campaign of calumny.

Despite various claims over his role as chairman between 2012 and 2021 in FBN Holdings, Otudeko is neither shaken, confused, nor worried over the campaign of calumny against his personality. However, not willing to allow his name to be dragged in the mud, Otudeko has opted for a legal route to ensure his hard earned integrity and reputation remains untainted.

To this end, a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, January 20, 2025, confirmed that Dr. Otudeko had not been formally notified of any filings which relate to a transaction that took place at First Bank over 12 years ago.

It is also believed that the seemingly coordinated campaign of calumny might be as a result of Dr. Otudeko’s disapproval of a decision that seeks to disenfranchise over 1.2 million shareholders of the FBN Holdings.