The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed February 27, 2025, for the arraignment of Gbolahan Obanikoro, the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four others over an alleged N1.3 billion fraud.
To be arraigned alongside Gbolahan are Adejare Adegbenro, 51; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS International Company Limited.
The defendants face five charges, including conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, false representation, and fraud.
The presiding judge, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, set the date on Friday after the defendants failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment.
When the case was called, the prosecution counsel, Momoh Bello, informed the court that the arraignment was scheduled but the defendants were absent. He requested a bench warrant for their arrest, stating they had been served.
However, Joshua Abel, representing M.O.B. Integrated Limited, opposed the request, explaining that his client had received late notice of the case.
He said, “The fourth defendant is a company. Service was received late on Wednesday, and I was informed of the case only on Thursday. Most of the directors are currently outside the country.”
Justice Lewis-Allagoa asked for proof and date of service on the defendants.
The judge said, “The record of this court shows that service was effected on the third and fourth defendants less than 48 hours ago. One was served yesterday. There is no proof that the first and second defendants, who are natural persons, have been served. Personal service is required by law. The prosecution is directed to ensure proper service on the defendants.”
The judge then adjourned the case to February 27 for the arraignment of all defendants.
The Inspector General of Police, through the Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos, accused the defendants of conspiring between May and September 2013 to fraudulently obtain N1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank).
The defendants allegedly misrepresented themselves to bank officials, claiming they were importing cars from Dubai for resale in Nigeria and needed the funds to finance the importation.
They are accused of unlawfully converting the sum of N1 billion, part of the bank’s funds, for personal use.
The police said their actions violated the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, 2006, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa has directed the prosecution to regularize service to ensure the case proceeds as scheduled.
