At the previous court session held on March 17, 2025, Otudeko’s legal counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), disclosed that the AGF Fagbemi had called for a meeting with all parties to explore an out-of-court settlement.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), overruled the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), preventing the agency from compelling Oba Otudeko, Chairman of Honeywell Group, to appear for arraignment in an alleged N12.3 billion fraud case, SaharaReporters has learned from sources familiar with the matter.
Sources informed SaharaReporters that a meeting was convened involving the EFCC due to a crisis in the handling of the case. During the meeting, the EFCC cited a case involving former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, arguing that Oba Otudeko must enter a plea before any settlement discussions could commence.
However, the AGF intervened, informing the court that his office had assumed control of the case and that negotiations were underway to potentially resolve the matter.
This prompted the judge presiding over the case to adjourn the proceedings.
“The AGF overruled the EFCC, preventing the agency from forcing Oba Otudeko to appear for arraignment,” one of the sources said.
“They called a meeting because there was a crisis. Yahaya Bello’s case was cited as a reason why Oba Otudeko must take a plea before a settlement could be reached. But the AGF overruled them and told the court his office had taken over the case and that a negotiation had commenced.”
“That was how the AGF forced the judge handling the case to adjourn the matter,” the source added.
Indeed, on Thursday, March 8, the case was adjourned to June 11, 2025, to allow the parties time to either reach a settlement or proceed with the arraignment.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke granted the adjournment following submissions from both defence and prosecution counsel.
The case, initiated by the Lagos Directorate 1 of the EFCC, accuses Otudeko and co-defendants of a 13-count charge bordering on fraud and obtaining money by false pretence.
Otudeko is being tried alongside former First Bank Managing Director, Olabisi Onasanya, former Honeywell board member Soji Akintayo, and the firm Anchorage Leisure Limited.
At the previous court session held on March 17, 2025, Otudeko’s legal counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), disclosed that the AGF Fagbemi had called for a meeting with all parties to explore an out-of-court settlement.
The meeting was reportedly held on March 12, and the nominal complainant attended it.
It was noted that a follow-up meeting took place on April 9, 2025; however, no final agreement was reached.
During the court sitting on May 8, defence counsel, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), updated the court that negotiations were ongoing. Prosecuting counsel, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, confirmed this and requested an adjournment to allow time for further developments.
Justice Aneke subsequently adjourned the matter to June 11, 2025, for a “report on settlement and/or arraignment”.
Also, on Monday, March 17, Justice Aneke ordered Oba Otudeko to appear in court for his arraignment over the alleged multi-billion-naira fraud.
Meanwhile, the defendants had 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, had said in a statement.
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.
Olanipekun told the court that significant progress was made during the meeting concerning the case.
“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.
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.
Efforts by our reporter to reach Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, for comments were unsuccessful.
