The Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, was absent on Thursday at the Federal High Court in Lagos for his arraignment on charges of allegedly obtaining ₦12.3bn from First Bank under false pretences.
His co-defendants, former First Bank Managing Director Olabisi Onasanya and ex-Honeywell Flour Mills board member Soji Akintayo, were present, alongside Anchorage Leisure Ltd, a company linked to Otudeko.
Otudeko’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed the court that his client had travelled to the UK for medical treatment and had not absconded. The prosecution, however, requested a firm undertaking on when he would return.
Defence lawyers urged the court to first hear applications challenging its jurisdiction before proceeding with arraignment, arguing that forcing a plea before resolving jurisdiction issues would be unjust.
The prosecution countered that legal precedent required pleas to be taken first before addressing objections.
After hearing all arguments, Justice Aneke adjourned the case to 17 March to decide on whether to hear the jurisdictional challenge.