The trial of businessman Wilson Opuwei over an alleged $550,000 fraud resumed on Tuesday at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned him after more than a decade of legal delays.
Opuwei and his company, Dateline Energy Services Limited, were brought before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing. Both defendants pleaded not guilty.
“This matter is commencing de novo,” Justice Abike-Fadipe declared, as she ordered that the trial begin afresh following years of judicial transfers and interruptions.
The case, which originated in 2011, has moved across several courts and judges. Opuwei was first arraigned on May 23, 2011, before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos State High Court, now a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Following Justice Abiru’s elevation to the Court of Appeal in 2012, the matter passed through Justices Onigbajo and Lawal Akapo before eventually returning to Justice Abike-Fadipe.
In his ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe allowed the defendant to continue on the earlier bail terms and adjourned the trial to March 19, 30 and 31, as well as April 1 and 2, 2026, for further hearing.
Leading the prosecution, Nwandu Ukoha told the court that Opuwei allegedly obtained $550,000 from a businessman, Prince Donatus, in April 2011 under false pretences.
“The defendant represented that he would supply 5,000 metric tonnes of kerosene from the Pipeline Products and Marketing Company (PPMC),” Ukoha said. “This representation was false to his knowledge and the product was never supplied.”
Ukoha, who appeared on behalf of lead prosecutor Fadeke Giwa, explained that the case had previously stalled after the prosecution closed its case.
“My Lord, the prosecution closed its case nine years ago, but the defence failed to open its defence, which necessitated this fresh trial,” he said.