- Safiu Kehinde
The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has stepped into the alleged N12.3 billion Naira fraud case against the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko as court adjourned hearing of the case.
NPO Reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Otudeko alongside 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.
The commission in a statement issued on Friday would however disclosed the adjournment of the case.
According to the statement, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, sitting on Thursday in Ikoyi, Lagos, adjourned the case till June 11, 2025 “for a report on settlement and/or arraignment”.
EFCC disclosed that Otudeko’s lawyer ,Wole Olanipekun (SAN), had at the last adjourned sitting on March 17, 2025, informed the court that a meeting involving all counsel had been convened at the instance of the Fagbemi towards reaching a peaceful settlement of the matter.
The counsels were billed to meet with the AGF again today, leading to the request for the adjournment.
“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,” Otudeko’s lawyer was quoted to have said.
The first defence counsel , Bode Olanipekun (SAN), also 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.