Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High
Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, May 8, 2025, adjourned till
June 11, 2025 “for a report on settlement and/or arraignment” of the Chairman
of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko and others over an alleged N12.3bn fraud
brought against them by the Lagos Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission , EFCC, Ikoyi, Lagos.
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.
At the last adjourned sitting on March 17, 2025,
Otudeko’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun SAN informed the court that a meeting
involving all counsel had been convened at the instance of the Attorney General
of the Federation, AGF, towards reaching a peaceful settlement of the matter.
“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 of the meeting,”
he said.
At the resumed sitting on Thursday, the
first defence counsel , Bode Olanipekun SAN, informed the court that parties
were still negotiating settlement and have not concluded talks regarding
settlement negotiations.
Responding, the prosecution counsel, Bilkisu
Buhari-Bala, confirmed the position to the court and prayed that the case be
adjourned for a report of settlement or an arraignment.
Justice Aneke adjourned the matter till June
11, 2025 for a report of settlement and/or arraignment.
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