Judgment Postponed to December 1 in Fraud Case Against First Nation Airways CEO

The Lagos Special Offences Court has deferred judgment in the ongoing fraud case against Kayode Odukoya, the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of First Nation Airways. The decision, announced on December 1, 2023, follows a prolonged trial involving Odukoya, First Nation Airways, and Bellview Airlines (Lagos).

The charges against Odukoya include seven counts related to forgery, use of false documents, perjury, stealing, and obtaining credit by fraud. Odukoya has consistently pleaded not guilty to all accusations. The case centers on alleged fraudulent activities, including the obtaining of credit from a bank and the dishonest conversion of a substantial sum of money.

Among the specific charges, Odukoya and First Nation Airways are accused of fraudulently obtaining credit of NGN307.2 million (approximately USD400,500) from Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank) on August 29, 2013. Another charge pertains to the alleged dishonest conversion of NGN1.7 billion (USD2.2 million) from Skye Bank on October 7, 2016.

Judge Mojisola Dada, overseeing the trial, rejected a no-case submission from the defense during the proceedings. The prosecution presented five witnesses before concluding its case on November 30, 2020, with all court proceedings finalized on October 11, 2023.

A spokesperson for First Nation reiterated the collective assertion of innocence by Odukoya, First Nation Airways, and Bellview Airlines. The parties involved express confidence in the court’s ability to ultimately clear their names, demonstrating faith in the judicial process.