Controversy Erupts As EFCC Abandons Fraud Prosecution Of Oba Otudeko

Earlier in January, the EFCC had filed a 13-count charge against Otudeko and three others, accusing them of involvement in a ₦30 billion fraud.

However, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos struck out the case after EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo announced the agency’s decision to discontinue the suit.

At the last court session on February 13, the defence had requested that their preliminary objections be heard before any arraignment.

But Justice Aneke ruled that, based on established legal precedent—including Onnoghen v. FRN and Bello v. FRN—a defendant’s plea must be taken before any objections are considered.

Following this ruling, lead defence counsel Wole Olanipekun (SAN) informed the court that negotiations for an out-of-court settlement were ongoing, citing a March 12 meeting held under the supervision of the Attorney General.

He, along with other senior advocates representing the defence—Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), Olumide Fusika (SAN), and Charles Adeosun-Phillips (SAN)—requested an adjournment and urged the court not to fix a date for arraignment to allow the settlement process to continue without pressure.