By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Oba Otudeko, a former chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), has suddenly left Nigeria.
This comes as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) set to arrained him and three others in court on a 13-count charge of alleged fraud.
According to The Cable, security sources said the businessman left the country via one of the land borders.
The socurces said he was dropped off at the Nigeria-Benin border on Thursday evening by a family member.
Otudeko’s phone number was switched off when contacted, The Cable reports. Messages sent to his WhatsApp, however, delivered — but there was no response.
Also, Obafemi Otudeko, his son, did not respond to calls and messages when contacted for comments on his father’s whereabouts and destination.
Recall on Thursday, the EFCC filed charges against Otudeko and three others at the federal high court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N12.3 billion from First Bank.
The anti-graft agency said the defendants would be arraigned on Monday.
The three other defendants are Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, a former group managing director of FBN; Soji Akintayo, an ex-board member of Honeywell Flour Mills plc; and Anchorage Limited, a company linked to Otudeko.
In the charge sheet, the EFCC accused Otudeko and the other defendants of obtaining tranches of loans—N12.3 billion, N5.2 billion, N6.2 billion, N6.1 billion, and N1.5 billion—from First Bank under the pretence that the funds were obtained by some firms.
The anti-graft agency said the credit facilities were obtained between 2013 and 2014.
The anti-graft agency plans to call First Bank representatives Cecelia Majekodunmi, Ola Michael Aderogba, Abiodun Olatunji, Raymond Eze, Abiodun Odunbola, and Adeeyo David to testify to the defendants’ fraudulent misrepresentation and provide pertinent documentation as evidence of the charge against them.
Additionally, the EFCC will use the testimony of representatives of V-tech Dynamics Ltd., Stallion Nigeria Limited, and the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Adaeze Nwakoby and Farida Abubakar are also listed as witnesses by the EFCC.
The acts were penalised under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Acts 2006, which the Commission claims violate Section 8(a) of the same Act.
According to count one of the charges, Chief Oba Otudeko, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Soji Akintayo, and Anchorage Leisure Limited conspired between 2013 and 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, to obtain N12,300,000,000.00 (twelve billion, three hundred million naira only) from First Bank Limited under the false pretence that the money represented credit facilities applied for by V-Tech Dynamic Links Limited and Stallion Nigeria Limited. You committed an offence against Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006, which is punishable under Section 1(3).
According to Count 2, the defendants “obtained the sum of N5.2 billion from First Bank Limited on the pretence that the said sum represented credit facilities applied for by V Tech Dynamic Links Limited, whose representation you know to be false,” on or around November 26, 2013, in Lagos.
According to the third count, the defendants collected N6.2 billion from First Bank Limited in Lagos between 2013 and 2014 on the false pretext that the money represented credit facilities sought and disbursed to Stallion Nigeria Limited.
According to Count 4, on or around November 26, 2013, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, you, Chief Oba Otudeko, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Soji Akintayo, and Anchorage Leisure Limited conspired to use N6,150,000,000.00 (six billion, one hundred and fifty million naira only), which you reasonably should have known was part of the proceeds of your illegal activities, specifically: obtaining by false pretence. In doing so, you violated Sections 18(a), 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and Section 15(3) of the same Act.
Count 5 charges Chief Oba Otudeko, Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, Soji Akintayo, and Anchorage Leisure Limited with obtaining N1.5 billion from Honeywell Flour Mills Plc on or around December 11, 2013, in Lagos. You should have known that this amount was a part of the proceeds of your illegal activities, specifically: obtaining by false pretence. As a result, you violated Section 18(c), 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and you are subject to penalties under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
My hands are clean- Otudeko
Meanwhile, Oba Otudeko in a statement on Thursday by Olasumbo Abolaji, general counsel of Honeywell Group, refuted reports stating the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed charges against him and three others over alleged fraud.
Otudeko said he has never served in an executive capacity within FBN Holdings and its banking subsidiary, First Bank of Nigeria Limited — hence he had no operational responsibility in the organisation.
“As of this moment, he has received no official summons, neither has his legal team received any official invitation from relevant authorities. As he has done in the past, Dr Oba Otudeko is always ready and available to assist any government agency with appropriate oversight in the execution of their duties, with the expectation that these affairs will be conducted with the highest standard of professionalism,” the statement read.
He also called on journalists to verify sensitive information before publication to ensure accuracy and fairness.
“While we respect the role of the press in keeping the public informed, we urge journalists to verify such sensitive information before publication to ensure accuracy and fairness,” the statement noted.
“Otudeko stated that at 81, he is now focused on mentoring future business leaders and fostering societal development through enterprise. He categorically ruled out any interest in serving in an executive or non-executive capacity in any organisation beyond his current commitments.
“He is not interested in serving in an executive capacity in any organization in Nigeria or elsewhere, neither is he interested in serving in a non-executive capacity on any board asides those he currently sits on. This includes any possibility of returning to the board of FBN Holdings Plc, which appears to be the focus of the recent unfortunate news barrage,” the statement read.