The Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, on
Monday, January 20, 2025, failed to appear before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of
the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for his scheduled arraigned by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Otudeko was slated for arraignment 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.
They were to be arraigned on a 13-count charge
bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N12.3billion.
At today’s sitting, counsel to Otudeko, Bode
Olanipekun, SAN, informed the court that the charge had not been served on his
client.
However, Olumide Fusika, SAN, announced his appearance
for the second defendant and informed the court that he had a copy of the
charge, which he printed online.
Also, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, announced his
appearance for the third defendant, while Adeogun Philips, SAN,
represented the fourth defendant.
In view of this, Justice Aneke wondered why all the
defence counsels were in court, if they claimed their clients had
not been served.
In response, Olanipekun told the court that the media,
on January 17, 2025, reported widely that defendants were to be arraigned
on Monday but insisted that his client had not been served any charge
In response, lead prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo , SAN,
told the court that efforts had been made to affect service on the defendants
without success.
Oyedepo, therefore, told the court that the
prosecution had a motion for substituted service at the last known addresses of
the defendants.
He also prayed the court to move his application which
was granted.
After moving his application, counsel to the second
defendant informed the court that he was willing to undertake service of the
charge for his client, since he had already taken steps to print the
same.
Following a directive by the court to issue service on
the second defence counsel, who had indicated willingness to accept the same,
the prosecutor handed Fusika a copy of the charge in court.
The court, consequently, adjourned the case till
February 13, 2025 for arraignment of the defendants.
Comments:
Leave a Reply