Court Orders Honeywell Chairman Oba Otudeko To Appear For Arraignment Over Alleged N12.3Billion Fraud

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday ordered the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, to appear in court for his arraignment over an alleged N12.3 billion fraud filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Otudeko is set to be arraigned alongside a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya; a former Honeywell board member, Soji Akintayo; and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited. The EFCC has filed a 13-count charge against them, accusing them of obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N12.3 billion.

The defendants have filed preliminary objections challenging the court’s jurisdiction to try the case in an attempt to avoid arraignment, Dele Oyewale, EFCC Head of Media & Publicity, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Justice Aneke had previously adjourned the case on February 13, 2025, for a ruling on Otudeko’s application contesting the court’s jurisdiction over the charges. The court resumed the hearing on Monday, March 17, 2025.

At Monday’s sitting, Otudeko’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, informed the court that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) convened a meeting on March 12, 2025, which was also attended by the nominal complainant.

Olanipekun told the court that significant progress was made during the meeting concerning the case.

He further stated that all parties agreed that no additional legal filings should be made in the matter after the court’s ruling on Monday.

“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,” he said.

In response, EFCC counsel Bilkisu Buhari confirmed the development but urged the court to adjourn the case for either an arraignment or a report on the settlement.

Ruling on Otudeko’s application, Justice Aneke held that the arraignment of the defendants must take place before hearing any pending preliminary objections.

The judge subsequently adjourned the case until May 8, 2025, for a report on the settlement.