Alleged N12.3bn Fraud: Otudeko, Onasanya, Others’ Absence Stall Arraignment

The Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, and the former Managing Director of First Bank, Olabisi Onasanya were absent at the Federal High Court today for their arraignment on a 13 count charge of allegedly obtaining the sum of N12.3bn from First Bank.

The duo were however represented by counsel in court.

Counsel to Oba Otudeko, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bode Olanipekun told Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke that he was appearing in protest as the charge had not been served on him and the other defendants in the case.

Apart from the former Managing Director of First Bank, Olabisi Onasanya, the other defendants are a former member of the board of directors of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, Mr Soji Akintayo and a company linked to Otudeko, named Anchorage Leisure Ltd.

Olanipekun told the court that despite not being served with the charge, the defendants were shocked to hear of the planned arraignment through the media when the story broke last week Thursday.

He showed the court several national dailies with the report, and also read out portions of the report. He described such conduct as being most unfair, especially as no charge was served on his client.

Another Senior Advocate, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika who announced appearance for the second defendant, Olabisi Onasanya, the former MD of First Bank, also told the court that his client was not served but he obtained a copy of the charge by printing same out

Counsel to the third defendant, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju and counsel to the fourth defendant, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Charles Adeogun-Philips also announced appearance for their clients in protest as they all maintained that they were never served with the charge.

In response, the prosecutor, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Rotimi Oyedepo told the court that efforts had being made at several times to effect service on the defendants without success especially at their last known addresses in Ikoyi.

Oyedepo also told the court that the prosecution had an application for substituted service on the defendants.

He asked the court to allow him move his application and the court granted same.

After moving his application, second defendnat counsel, Olumide-Fusika informed the court that he was willing to accept service of the charge on behalf his client, since he had already taken steps to print same.

Following a directive from the court the prosecutor handed Olumide-Fusika a copy of the charge in court.

Justice Aneke then adjourned the case until Feb. 13, for the arraignment of all the defendants.