Justice Chukwu Jekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has rejected a request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an arrest warrant against Dr. Oba Otudeko, Dr. Bisi Onasanya, and others.
The court ruled that the defendants had not been properly served with formal notice, which is a prerequisite for issuing such a warrant.
The court, however, granted the EFCC permission to use alternative methods to serve the defendants, according to a report by Vanguard.
During the hearing, Dr. Otudeko’s legal counsel, Bode Olanipekun, requested an order to prevent the misuse of media coverage. In response, Justice Aneke urged all parties involved to avoid unnecessary media exposure and called on journalists to report the proceedings accurately.
The EFCC has been criticized for publicizing allegations before officially notifying the accused, with legal experts warning that such actions could violate the right to a fair hearing and harm the reputations of those involved.
AFRIPOST reports that critics also argued that this approach might unfairly influence public opinion and compromise the judicial process.
The case centers on allegations tied to Dr. Otudeko’s previous role as a non-executive director of First Bank of Nigeria. Both Dr. Otudeko and Dr. Onasanya have denied the charges, with Otudeko expressing confidence that the legal process will reveal the truth.
Further proceedings have been scheduled for February 13.
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