Oba Otudeko
Baring any unforseen circumstances, the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko and a former First Bank Managing Director, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya would be arraigned next Monday, January 20, 2025 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over allegations of looting the First Bank’s N12.3billion naira.
To be charged for criminal offences alongside Otudeko and Onasanya is a former board member of Honeywell Group, Soji Akintayo and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited connected to Otudeko.
According to the EFCC, the four committed the fraud in tranches of N5.2billion, N6.2billion, N6.150billion, N1.5billion and N500million, between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos.
Already a 13-count charge has been filed by EFCC counsel, Bilikisu Buhari on January 16, 2025, where the commission further claimed that the defendants made and uttered forged documents to deceive the bank.
The case with the registration number, FHC/L/20C/2025 has been assigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Lagos division of the Federal High Court.
Specifically, count 1 accused the defendants of conspiring “to obtain the sum of N12.3Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V-TECH DYNAMIC LINKS LIMITED and Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false.”
In Count 2, it was alleged that the defendants, on or about 26th day of November, 2013 in Lagos, “obtained the sum of N5.2 Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V TECH DYNAMIC LINKS LIMITED which representation you know to be false.”
The 3rd count claimed that
the defendants, between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos, obtained N6.2 Billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for and disbursed to Stallion Nigeria Limited, which representation you know to be false.”
In the 4th count, they were accused of conspiring to spend the N6,15 Billion, out of the monies.
According to the Commission, the offences contravene Section 8(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and was punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Counts 5 and 6 read: “That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about 11th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, procured Honeywell Flour Mills Plc to retain the sum of N1,5 Billion, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretense and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c), 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO, AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about 17th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, converted to the use of Honeywell Flour Mills Pic the sum of N500 Million Naira Only which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: Obtaining by False Pretense and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2 (b)) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.””
Other charges are as follows:
“Count 7. That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: uttering a forged document – titled “Letter of Application” with intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of same Act.
“COUNT 8: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court uttered a forged document titled “Letter of Application” with intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Dynamic Links Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2)(c) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under same Act.
“COUNT 9 That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: making false document titled “AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE TO FIRST BANK” with intent that it may be used by First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of same Act.
“COUNT 10: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO, STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA, SOJI AKINTAYO AND ANCHORAGE LEISURE LIMITED on or about the 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos and within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court made a forged document titled “AUTHORIZATION TO ISSUE INVESTMENT CERTIFICATE TO FIRST BANK” with Intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document is genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the MISCELLANEOUS OFFENCES ACT, Cap M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under same Act.
“COUNT 11: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO AND STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA on or about 31st day of October, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N6,200,000,000 (Six Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira Only), to STALLION NIGERIA LIMITED’s account number “2015708429” domiciled with First Bank, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: Fraudulent False Accounting and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (c) and 15(2 (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“COUNT 12: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO AND STEPHEN OLABISI ONASANYA on or about 11th day of December, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N2, 090, 000,000 (Two Billion, Ninety Million Naira Only), from STALLION NIGERIA LIMITED’s account number “2015708429” domiciled with First bank, to Emmerado Logistics Limited’s account number “0688985010” domiciled with First City Monument Bank, which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities to wit: Fraudulent False Accounting and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (c) and 15(2 (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
“COUNT 13: That you, CHIEF OBA OTUDEKO on or about 3rd day of September, 2013 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court whilst being the Chairman of First bank Plc indirectly had personal interest in a loan facility sought for by V Tech Dynamics Links Limited in the sum of N6,150,000,000.00 (Six Billion, One Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only), which interest was not declared to the Bank and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(1) BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ACT 2004 and punishable under Section 18(2) of same Act.”
