N12.3 billion charge: Otudeko, lawyers protest in court
21 January 2025 |
2:48 am
Lawyers representing the former Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, and others in the N12.3 billion charge levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday
Lawyers representing the former Chairman of the Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, and others in the N12.3 billion charge levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, announced an appearance in protest of the charge.
The EFCC preferred a 13-count charge against Otudeko and a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya. Also charged with them is a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo, and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Ltd.
The defendants in the charge, marked FHC/L/20C/2025, were accused of allegedly obtaining N12.3 billion from First Bank under false pretence. When the case was called, counsel for Otudeko, Mr Bode Olanipekun (SAN), informed the court he was appearing in protest in the case, as the charge had not been served on his client.
Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) announced the appearance for the second defendant and informed the court that he had a copy of the charge, which he printed out. Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) appeared for the third defendant, while Mr Adeogun Philips (SAN) announced an appearance for the fourth defendant, also 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 January 17, the media reported screaming headlines, indicating that the defendants were to be arraigned yesterday.
He showed to the court 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 efforts were 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 the defendants. He prayed the court to move his application, and the court granted the same.
After moving his application, the second defence counsel informed the court he was willing to undertake service of the charge for his client since he had already taken steps to print it out.
Following a directive by the court to issue service on the second defence counsel, who had indicated a willingness to accept it, the prosecutor handed Olumide-Fusika a copy of the charge in court.
The court, consequently, adjourned the case until February 13, for arraignment of the defendants. The EFCC alleged that the 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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