A federal court in Lagos has amended on March 17, 2025 to rule various applications challenging its jurisdiction, demanding hearing 13 items filed against former Nigeria former chairman (FBN) (FBN), OBA Otudeko and others allegations.
The court set a date for the debate for lawyers representing the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the defendants.
Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, former managing director of FBN, was absent from Otudeko, and Soji Akintayo, a former board member of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc, attended the meeting.
Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) appears in the prosecution, while Wole Olanipekun (San) Oladipo Shasore (San), Kehide Ogunwumiju and Ade Adedeji (San) appear in the 1st to 4th defendants. In addition, Mr. Jide Koku (SAN) announced the announcement of this compliance (first bank).
Olanipekun told the court that Otudeko had filed an application dated January 28, 2025, explaining his absence.
The application shows that Otudeko left Nigeria on January 16, 2025, received medical treatment in the UK, and arrived at Heathrow Airport on the same day. Olanipekun stressed that Otudeko had left the country legally and did not abscond.
In response, Oyedepo reminded the court that the matter had been adjourned due to the defendant’s trial, and the prosecution followed the court’s instructions to serve the defendant in alternative ways.
Attorneys of the second, third and fourth defendants, including Ogunwumiju San, Addeji (San) and Shasore (San), argue that the court should first hear their application challenge their application before the lawsuit.
Specifically, in its February 10, 2025 application, Ogunwumiju (SAN) requested the court to revoke or refuse to revoke jurisdiction under provisions 1 to 10, alleging abuse of judicial proceedings and lack of superficial evidence.
He prayed to the Court to request the Commission on Restriction of Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) or its agents, officials, employees, officials or anyone, whether in arrest, invitation, detention, detention, harassment and harassment of the third defendant/applicant Any person described in this fee is prior to notice of the determination of this motion.
The application is also seeking an order to remove the third defendant’s name from the charge
But EFCC prosecutor Oyedepo retorted that the allegations in the 13 charges stem from a detailed investigation that revealed the first and second defendants colluded with breach of contract.
He asserted that the allegation was filed under the 2015 provisions of the Criminal Justice Act and did not require the prosecution to submit an investigation and complete affidavit before submitting the complaint.
He proposed that the court had the power and necessary jurisdiction to hear and determine each offence contained in the immediate criminal charge.
After the lawyer submitted it, Judge Anne adjourned it to March 17 to make the ruling.
