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 docked before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a four-count charge involving obtaining by false pretences and stealing.

The defendant was initially arraigned on May 23, 2011, before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos State High Court, before he was elevated to the Court of Appeal.

However, following several transfers and reassignments, the case was brought before Justice Fadipe for trial de novo.

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

Opuwei pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him in court.

The prosecution informed the court that it had closed its case about nine years earlier, but that the defence had failed to open its case, necessitating a fresh trial.

However, the defence countered that it had commenced its defence about five years ago.

The defendant’s counsel told the court that the matter, originally handled by Justice Abiru, was taken on appeal in 2012 and later heard by Justices Adeniyi Onigbanjo and Lateef Lawal-Akapo, who has since been elevated to the Court of Appeal, before being reassigned to Justice Fadipe.

The defence further reminded the court that Opuwei was granted bail on May 22, 2012, by Justice Abiru, and urged the court to allow the defendant to continue on the same bail conditions.

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