Eric Patrick
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos has adjourned the hearing of the chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko and others over alleged N12.3bn fraud to June 11, 2025.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Lagos Directorate 1, arraigned Otudeko alongside a former Managing Director of First Bank Plc, Olabisi Onasanya, and former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo, Anchorage Leisure Limited, on a 13-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N12.3 billion.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement, shared in its X handle (Formerly Twitter) on Friday.
At the previous 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.
READ ALSO: Yahaya Bello: Court to Rule June 26 on EFCC’s Bid to Cross-Examine Witness
“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.
However, 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.