N740m scam: FRSC officer tells court how he lost N28m to investment scheme

A Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officer, Modestus Uchenna Okafor, on Wednesday told the Federal High Court in Abuja how he allegedly lost N28.08 million in an investment scheme linked to the Chief Executive Officer of Onome Global Market Resources Limited, Osabohein Alex Ologbose, his wife, Hope Onome Oghelemu, and their alleged accomplice, Alice Ayeni.

Okafor, who testified as the second prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, said Ayeni convinced him to invest in a purported agricultural export business after presenting herself as a director of Onome Global and a manager at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ologbose, his wife and their companies—Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited—on a seven-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, money laundering and conversion of funds amounting to N740 million.

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel, O.S. Ujam, the witness said he met Ayeni at NEXIM Bank while seeking information on exporting agricultural products and obtaining financing.

According to him, Ayeni introduced him to Onome Global, claiming the company was duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and possessed the necessary regulatory approvals, including a SCUML certificate.

Okafor told the court that Ayeni informed him the company had secured an order to export 30 bags of bitter kola to Hong Kong and offered him the opportunity to invest in two bags at N310,000 each.

He said he initially paid N620,000 before making additional investments, bringing the total amount he transferred into Ayeni’s accounts to N28.08 million for the purported export of bitter kola and kola nuts to Hong Kong, China and Indonesia.

The witness said Ayeni acknowledged receiving the payments and that he also retained chat records and transaction evidence, which he stored on a flash drive.

Okafor further testified that after repeated promises of returns failed to materialise, he and another investor confronted Ayeni, who took them to the residence of the third defendant, Oghelemu.

He said the defendants assured them that the delays were caused by the foreign companies expected to receive the exports and promised that investors would soon receive both their capital and returns.

According to him, the defendants later apologised to investors during a meeting held at Living Faith Church, maintaining that payment delays were beyond their control.

However, suspicious of the explanations, the investors petitioned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Ports Authority to verify the claimed export transactions.

Okafor told the court that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed there were no receiving companies in the countries cited by the defendants, while the Nigerian Ports Authority also stated that no such shipments had taken place.

“That was when I concluded that I had been defrauded,” he said, adding that he and six other investors subsequently petitioned the EFCC.

He also told the court that he had not recovered either his investment or any promised returns.

During cross-examination by defence counsel, Femi Peter Joseph, the witness maintained that records tendered before the court showed Ayeni acknowledged receiving several payments, including N7 million, N4.6 million paid into the account of Ayobola Anike Ventures Limited, and N2.38 million allegedly paid by another investor he introduced.

Justice Ekerete Akpan adjourned the case until September 24, 2026, for continuation of trial.