EFCC arraigns businessman Opuwei, company for alleged $550,000 fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, arraigned businessman Wilson Opuwei and his company, Dateline Energy Services Ltd., before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged $550,000 fraud.
Opuwei was docked on a four-count charge, including obtaining by false pretences and stealing.
According to the charges, Opuwei and his company allegedly obtained $500,000 and $50,000 from businessman Prince Donatus Okonkwo in April 2011 through one Chimaobi Anyast under the false pretence that the money was payment for the allocation of 5,000 metric tonnes of due purpose kerosene (DPK) from the Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a representation they knew to be false.
The defendant, who was previously arraigned on May 23, 2011, before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos State High Court, faced a trial de novo following the transfer of the case to Justice Fadipe.
The prosecution, led by Nwandu Ukoha on behalf of Fadeke Giwa, told the court that Opuwei allegedly obtained the total sum of $550,000 from Okonkwo under the false pretext of supplying kerosene from PPMC. Opuwei pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
The prosecution further informed the court that it had closed its case in 2015, while the defence failed to open its case, prompting the trial to start afresh. The case has experienced multiple delays due to the elevation of judges and what the court described as deliberate delays by the defence.
The defence counsel reminded the court that Opuwei was admitted to bail on May 22, 2012, by Justice Abiru and urged that he be allowed to continue on the same bail conditions.
In her ruling, Justice Fadipe ordered that the defendant remain on bail and adjourned the case to March 19, 30 and 31, as well as April 1 and 2, 2026, for trial.
