Access Bank’s top executives reportedly avoided arrest on Wednesday, February 5, when security agencies attempted to execute a court-ordered bench warrant at the bank’s headquarters in connection with an alleged unauthorized use of collateral property.
According to emerging reports monitored by Society Reporters, the bank’s Legal Officer informed law enforcement that CEO Bolaji Agbede, MD Roosevelt Ogbonna, and the Company Secretary were unavailable during the February 5th operation.
Video footage has surfaced showing the interaction between bank officials and prosecutors. The Legal Officers later accompanied police to Alagbon station, where they reportedly promised the defendants would appear at the next hearing scheduled for February 24th, 2025.
The controversy centres around a N 333 million loan granted by then-Diamond Bank (now Access Bank) to Balmoral International Limited and its managing director, Adejare Adegbenro. MOB Integrated Services Limited had allegedly provided their Bourdillon Road property in Ikoyi as collateral for this loan. However, Access Bank is accused of subsequently using the same property as collateral for an unrelated N1 billion facility without MOB Integrated Services’ knowledge or consent.
The bench warrant was issued after bank officials failed to appear for their January 20th arraignment. This latest development adds another layer to the complex legal battle over the alleged misuse of collateral in loan agreements worth over N1.3 billion.
