The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a businessman, Wilson Opuwei, alongside his company, Dateline Energy Services Ltd., over an alleged $550,000 fraud.
The arraignment took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, according to a statement by the EFCC.
The case relates to alleged offences dating back to 2011 and centres on claims of obtaining money under false pretences linked to petroleum product allocations.
The anti-graft agency said Opuwei and his company were docked on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretences and stealing.
According to the charges, the defendants allegedly obtained funds from a businessman, Prince Donatus Okonkwo, on the claim that the money was payment for the allocation of 5,000 metric tonnes of Dual Purpose Kerosene from the Petroleum Products Marketing Company.
Count one reads:
Count two reads
The EFCC said the defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read in court.
Counsel to the defendant informed the court that Opuwei had earlier been admitted to bail on May 22, 2012, and urged the court to allow him to continue under the same bail conditions.
In his ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe ordered that the defendant should continue on the earlier bail terms and adjourned the matter to March 19, 30, and 31, as well as April 1 and 2, 2026, for trial.
The EFCC has charged several business and corporate entities in recent years over alleged fraud and related financial crimes.
Yesterday, they arraigned Sarumi Samusideen Babafemi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of 606 Autors Limited, 606 Music Limited, and Splash Off Entertainment Limited, over an alleged N206 million fraud.