EFCC to Arraign Otudeko, Former First Bank MD Over Alleged N12.3 Billion Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, and a former Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria,

Stephen Onasanya, on January 20, 2025. The arraignment will take place at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The two, alongside a former board member of Honeywell Group, Soji Akintayo, and a company, Anchorage Leisure Limited, face charges related to alleged fraudulent activities involving N12.3 billion.

The EFCC’s charges, filed by its counsel Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, outline a series of alleged fraudulent transactions. The agency claims that between 2013 and 2014, the defendants conspired to defraud First Bank of several sums of money through false representations and forgery.

According to the commission, the offences contravened Section 8(a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

In counts five and six, the EFCC said on or about December, 11, 2013, in Lagos, the four defendants procured Honeywell Flour Mills Plc to retain the sum of N1.5bn, which sum they reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of their unlawful activities to obtaining by false pretense, 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.

Chief Oba Otudeko, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Soji Akintayo, and Anchorage Leisure Limited were said to have on or about December, 17, 2013 in Lagos, converted to the use of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc the sum of N500m, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to obtaining by false pretence, 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.

In count eight, they were alleged to have on or about September 3, 2013, in Lagos conspired amongst themselves to commit an offence by uttering a forged document – titled “Letter of Application” with the intent that it may be used by the First Bank in the belief that the said document was genuine and emanated from V-Tech Links Dynamic Limited, 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.

The EFCC said on September 3, 2013, the defendants conspired amongst themselves and made a false document titled “Authorisation to issue Investment Certificate to First Bank with the 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.

The commission also alleged that on or about October 31, 2014, in Lagos, the first to third defendants procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N6,200,000,000 to Stallion Nigeria Limited’s account number “2015708429” domiciled with First Bank, which sum they “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.”

In count 12, the EFCC said that on or about December 11, 2013, in Lagos, the first and second defendants procured Abiodun Olatunji and Raymond Eze to transfer the sum of N2, 090, 000,000 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 commit fraudulent false accounting 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.

The EFCC said Oba Otudeko, on or about September 3, 2013, in Lagos, 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, “which interest was not declared to the bank, an offence contrary to Section 18(1) Banks and other financial institutions Act 2004 and punishable under Section 18(2) of same Act.”

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