Tunde Bakare
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.