The Federal High Court in Lagos has scheduled the arraignment of Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four others for February 27, 2025, over an alleged N1,356,057,330.43 fraud, according to News360 Nigeria.
Alongside Obanikoro, the following individuals will be arraigned: Adejare Adegbenro, 51; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS International Company Limited. The police charged them with five counts, including conspiracy, obtaining by false pretenses, fraud, and false representation.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa set the date after the defendants failed to appear for their initial arraignment. Prosecutor Momoh Bello informed the court that the defendants had been served but were absent. Bello requested a bench warrant, but the defense counsel for M.O.B. Integrated Limited, Joshua Abel, opposed the request. He explained that the company had received late notice and that several directors were abroad, preventing the arraignment from proceeding as planned.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa asked for proof of service, noting that the first and second defendants had not been properly served. He ordered the prosecution to regularize the service and adjourned the case to February 27, 2025.
The Special Fraud Unit, under the Inspector General of Police, accuses the defendants of conspiring between May and September 2013 to defraud Access Bank (formerly Diamond Bank) of N1,356,057,330.43. The fraud allegedly involved misrepresenting themselves to bank officials, claiming they needed the funds to import cars from Dubai for resale in Nigeria.
They are also accused of converting the funds for personal use, knowing the money was obtained unlawfully. These actions violate the Advance Fee Fraud and Money Laundering Acts.
