Justice Ibironke Harrison of a Lagos State High Court has ordered the arrest of Access Bank’s Managing Director, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Company Secretary, Robert Imowo and Bolaji Agbede.
The trio, according to court documents, are to be arrested and produce before the court on February 24, 2025 and further dates as may be deemed fit by the court.
The order was sequel to their failure to appear in court on January 20, 2025 in suit number: LD/24884C/24, between Lagos State versus Adejare Adegbenro and four others.
Other defendants which include Balmoral International Limited and DDSS International Company Limited, are standing trial on charges bordering on alleged conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, and fraud to the tune of N1.356 billion.
The allegations stemmed 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, belongs to a Company owned by Gbolahan Obanikoro, son of former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.
The charge sheet as signed by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State, 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.
Specifically, Adejare Adegbenro, Balmoral Int’l Ltd, Access Bank and Bolaji Agbede were alleged to have on September 2, 2013 at Plot 1261, Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State in the Lagos Judicial Division, conspired to commit a felony to wit; Stealing.
In count three, Adejare Adegbenro, Balmoral Int’l Ltd, Access Bank, Bolaji Agbede and DDSS Int’l Company Ltd were alleged to have “on September 2, 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.
In count four, the defendants were alleged to have on May 26, 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.
Meanwhile, part of the arrest warrant read: “Whereas: Bolaji Agbede was bound to appear before this court on January 20, 2025 but she failed to appear. And whereupon this Court ordered for the issuance of a bench warrant for him arrest and production in Court on the next adjourned date and on every other subsequent date until otherwise directed by the Court.
“You are thereby directed to arrest the said Bolaji Agbede and produce him in court on February 24, 2025.”
(FROM: THISDAY)
