EFCC Arraigns Businessman, Firm Over Alleged $550,000 Kerosene Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a businessman, Wilson Opuwei, and his company, Dateline Energy Services Limited, before the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged $550,000 fraud.

Opuwei was brought before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretences and stealing. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The case was first instituted on May 23, 2011, before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos State High Court. However, following Justice Abiru’s elevation to the Court of Appeal and subsequent transfers of the case among different judges, it was reassigned to Justice Abike-Fadipe for a trial de novo.

According to the prosecution, led by Nwandu Ukoha, who appeared for Fadeke Giwa, the defendant allegedly obtained $550,000 in April 2011 from a businessman, Prince Donatus, under the false pretence that he would supply 5,000 metric tonnes of kerosene through the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC). The prosecution maintained that Opuwei knew the claim to be false at the time.

The prosecution informed the court that it had closed its case about nine years ago, but alleged that the defence failed to open its case, prompting the need for a fresh trial. The defence, however, countered this claim, insisting that it had commenced its defence about five years ago.

Counsel to the defendant told the court that the matter had passed through several judges, including Justices Adeniyi Onigbanjo and Lateef Lawal-Akapo, who has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal, before being reassigned to Justice Abike-Fadipe. He also reminded the court that Opuwei was granted bail on May 22, 2012, and urged the court to allow the defendant to continue on the same bail conditions.

In his ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe ordered that the first defendant should continue on the earlier bail terms and adjourned the case to March 19, 30 and 31, as well as April 1 and 2, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.