The Federal High Court in Lagos has scheduled February 27, 2025, for the arraignment of Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, alongside four others, over allegations of a ₦1.35 billion fraud.
The other defendants in the case include Adejare Adegbenro, aged 51; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS International Company Limited. They face five charges, including conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, false representation, and fraud.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa set the new date after the defendants failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment on Friday. During the proceedings, the prosecution counsel, Momoh Bello, informed the court that the case was listed for the defendants' arraignment. However, due to their absence, Bello requested a bench warrant to force their appearance, claiming that all the defendants had been duly served.
Counsel for the fourth defendant (M.O.B. Integrated Limited), Joshua Abel, opposed the request, explaining that his client had received the court summons late on Wednesday and was only informed of the case on Thursday. He also noted that some of the company's directors were currently outside the country.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa reviewed the service records and pointed out that while the third and fourth defendants had been served, there was no proof of service for the first and second defendants, who are natural persons.
“The record of this court shows that service was effected on the third and fourth defendants, but it’s less than 48 hours since they were served. One was served as recently as yesterday. There is no proof that the first and second defendants have been served. The law requires personal service,” the judge ruled.
The judge directed the prosecution to regularize the service process for all defendants and adjourned the matter to February 27, 2025, for arraignment.
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 ₦1.35 billion from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank).
The defendants allegedly misrepresented themselves to the bank, claiming they were engaged in importing vehicles from Dubai for sale in Nigeria. They purportedly stated that the funds were required to finance the importation of brand-new cars for resale.
The police further allege that the defendants unlawfully converted ₦1 billion of the bank’s funds for personal use, knowing or having reason to know the money was proceeds of unlawful activity.
The charges against them include violations of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, 2006, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. If found guilty, the defendants face severe legal penalties.
