A Lagos High Court has issued arrest warrants for Access Bank and its MD, Bolaji Agbede, after they failed to appear for arraignment over theft charges

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafa Balewa Square has issued an arrest warrant for Access Bank and its acting Managing Director, Bolaji Agbede, alongside three other defendants.

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The order follows their failure to attend a scheduled arraignment in connection with a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, and attempted theft.

Justice Ibironke Harrison issued the bench warrant after the prosecution, represented by Uthman Rilwan, informed the court that the defendants had been duly served with notice but had failed to appear.

The case stems from a series of alleged criminal activities dating back to 2013.

The Lagos State government’s charges accuse the defendants, including Balmoral International Limited, DDSS International Company Limited, and Adejare Adegbenro, of conspiring to steal property belonging to MOB Integrated Services.

This alleged theft occurred at Plot 40b, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, where the defendants are said to have used the property as collateral for a loan without the owner’s consent.

Further allegations suggest the defendants attempted to steal the same property on May 26, 2019, by providing a N1 billion credit facility to DDSS International Company Limited.

The charges contravene multiple sections of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.

In court on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, the prosecution urged Justice Harrison to issue an arrest warrant for the absentees to ensure they attend the proceedings at the next court date.

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Justice Harrison complied, issuing the arrest order for Access Bank, Agbede, Balmoral International, and DDSS International. The judge adjourned the matter to February 24, 2025, for the defendants’ formal arraignment.