By Nkechi Eze
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, March 17, 2025, ordered Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko to appear in court for his arraignment over an alleged N12.3bn 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 with preliminary objections, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try them.
Justice Aneke had, at the sitting on February 13, 2025, adjourned till Monday ( March 17, 2025) for ruling on the application filed by Otudeko, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the multiple fraud charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commision, EFCC.
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, on March 12, 2025, convened a meeting, which was also attended by the nominal complainant.
He also told the court that substantial progress was made regarding the matter during the meeting.
Otudeko’s counsel further stated that it was agreed by all that no party should file further processes in this matter after Monday’s ruling by the court.
“The next date for the meeting in the office of the AGF is slated for April 9, 2025. Pursuant to this development, we’ll be asking for a date after April 9, depending on the outcome the meeting.”
Responding, counsel to the EFCC, Bilkisu Buhari, confirmed the development. Buhari, however, prayed the court to adjourn the matter for an arraignment or a report of settlement.
In his ruling on the application filed by Otudeko, Justice Aneke held that the arraignment of the defendants should come before the hearing of all the pending preliminary objections.
Consequently, the judge adjourned till May 8, 2025 for the report of settlement by the parties.
