A Lagos State High Court judge, Justice Ibironke Harrison last Friday ordered the arrest of Access Bank’s acting Managing Director, Ms. Bolaji Agbede, and three other defendants.
The judge made the order when the defendants, including Balmoral International Limited, DDSS International Company Limited and Adejare Adegbenro, all accused of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence and fraud totaling N1.356 billion, failed to show up in court.
But on the same day, a Federal High Court in Lagos scheduled 27 February for the arraignment Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, alongside Adegbenro and four others, over charges of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, and a N1.356 billion fraud.
The allegations stem from a 2013 incident where the defendants allegedly used MOB Integrated Services’ property as loan security without consent.
The property, located at Plot 40b, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, belongs to a company owned by Gbolahan Obanikoro. Access Bank is accused of attempting to appropriate the same property by granting a N1 billion credit facility to DDSS International Company Limited.
Justice Harrison scheduled the next hearing for 24 February 2025.
The charge sheet, as signed by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, reads: “Conspiracy to Commit a Felony to wit; Stealing Contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Law, Ch. C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Particulars of Offence
Adejare Adegbenro (M), Balmoral International Limited, Access Bank and Bolaji Agbede (M) on or about the 2nd day of September 2013 at Plot 1261, Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State in the Lagos Judicial Division, conspired to commit a felony to wit; Stealing.
Statement of Offence – Count 2
Conspiracy to Commit a Felony to wit; Stealing Contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Law, Ch. C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Particulars of Offence
Adejare Adegbenro (M), Balmoral International Limited, Access Bank, Bolaji Agbede (M), and DDSS International Company Limited on or about the 2nd day of September 2013 at Plot 1261, Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State in the Lagos Judicial Division, conspired to commit a felony to wit; Stealing.
Statement or Offence – Count 3
Stealing Contrary to Section 280 of the Criminal Law, Ch. C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Particulars of Offence
Adejare Adegbenro (M), Balmoral International Limited, Access Bank and Bolaji Agbede (M) on or about the 2nd day of September 2013 at Plot 1261, Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State in the Lagos Judicial Division, stole the property of MOB Integrated Services at Plot 40b, Bourdillion Road, Ikoyi, Lagos by using it as a security for loan without his consent and subsequently entering into a consent judgement.
Statement of Offence – Court 4
Attempted Stealing Contrary to Section 21 of the Criminal Law, Ch. C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Particulars of Offence
Adejare Adegbenro (M), Balmoral International Limited, Access Bank, Bolaji Agbede (M) and DDSS INTERNATIONAL COMPANY LIMITED on or about the 26th day of May 2019 at Plot 1261, Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State in the Lagos Judicial Division, attempted to steal the property of MOB Integrated Services at Plot 40b, Bourdillion Road, Ikoyi, Lagos by offering and granting DDSS International Company Limited a credit facility of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) only.
In the other similar matter, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of a Federal High Court in Lagos scheduled 27 February for Obanikoro’s arraignment, alongside Adegbenro and four others, over charges of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, and a N1.356 billion fraud.
The defendants, including Balmoral International Limited, M.O.B. Integrated Limited, and DDSS International Company Limited, are to appear before Justice Lewis-Allagoa.
The court fixed the date following their failure to attend the arraignment.
The Inspector General of Police, acting through the Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, stated that the defendants defrauded Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank) between May and September 2013.
They were accused of falsely claiming, through bank staff and officers, to be involved in importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria.
The funds obtained were purportedly for financing the importation of brand-new cars for restocking their business.
The defendants are also accused of converting, transferring, retaining, or taking possession of the N1.356 billion, knowing or having reason to know that the money constituted proceeds of fraudulent activities.
