How Couple Defrauded Me-Witness In Alleged N740m Investment Scam

The First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Chinyere Okoroafor in the trial of the Chief Executive Officer of Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited, Osabohein Alex Ologbose and his wife Hope Onome Oghelemu before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, June 22, 2026 narrated how she was defrauded by the couple in an investment scam.
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The defendants, alongside their two companies, Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on a seven-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence, conversion of funds and money laundering to the tune of N740 million (Seven Hundred and Forty Million Naira), contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishment under Section 18(4) of the same Act.

Prosecution counsel, O.S.Ujam insisted on proceeding with the matter even as the defence counsel, Peter Femi Joseph informed the court that he was not ready owing to the fact that his team took over the matter recently and that some of the documents in the case have not been handed over to it. “I just came into the matter newly, and some documents have not been handed over to me by the other counsel. I was not the one who prepared the application for bail. I was handed over the motion for bail,” he said.

With the court rejecting the prayer of the defence for adjournment, the witness, a civil servant, proceeded with her testimony by informing the court that the first and third defendant, Mr Ologbose and Oghelemu as well as the two companies, Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multiconcept Media Limited are known to her.

Narrating her ordeal to the court, she stated that she was introduced to the two defendants and the companies by one Alice Ayeni Alade, a staffer of NEXIM Bank.

She stated that Alade introduced her to an investment business of exportation of bitter-kola to China, Hong Kong and Indonesia and that the produce was used in those countries for pharmaceutical purposes.

“She introduced me to an investment business for the exportation of bitter-kola to China, Hong Kong and Indonesia and as we were having the discussion, she told me about the return on investment which looked good and because she was working with NEXIM Bank and we were talking about exportation, I believed and trusted her that she knew what she was talking about.

“She also told me that the business belonged to Hope Oghelemu, the third defendant and Mr. Alade the first defendant and that the first and third defendants do the business through the second defendants, Onome Global Resources, where they are the managing directors,” she said.

Speaking further, the witness stated the investment takes about eight weeks maturity time in which investors would get their return on investment. She disclosed that she invested N58.1million (Fifty-Eight Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira.)

“From what I was told, the first and third defendants used two weeks to source for bitter-kola, use four weeks to ship them to China, Hong Kong and Indonesia, and the remaining two weeks is used to process payment from their foreign partners and send back return on investment to investors,

“I made a payment totaling N58.1million into Alice Ayeni Alade GTB account. When it was time to send back the return on investment, Alade told me that she has not received payment from the second and third defendants. This was after eight weeks and when the pressure became much on Alade, she had to bring in the first and third defendants and they kept pleading with me that I should be patient. They told me a lot of stories that there was flooding in China and fire in Hong Kong and even sometimes freight issues,” she said.

She added that the defendants also kept pleading with her in a WhatsApp group meeting to be patient that her money will come.

“We were told they use the bitter-kola for their pharmaceutical companies, but when it has taken two months and dragging and nothing was coming out of it, I sent in a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,” she said.

When asked by the prosecution counsel if Alade confirmed her payment of N58.1 million, the witness responded in the affirmative adding that “Alice Ayeni Alade confirmed the receipt of the sum of N58.1 that I paid into her personal account with GTB and she also showed proof that all the money was sent to the first and third defendants.

“Alice Ayeni Alade showed me a lot of documents from the Corporate Affairs Commission and corporate profiles and booklets of profiles of Onome Global Market Resources, the second defendant,” she said.

EFCC

Further in her testimony, the witness stated that the first and third defendants were also part of a meeting arranged by the pastors of Living Faith Church, Sunny-Ville Estate, Abuja, where she disclosed that the third defendant knelt down and begged and said that everybody will receive the return on investment within two weeks.

This meeting, according to her, was before she realised that there was no investment at all and that the defendants had no dealing whatsoever with the foreign companies they were flaunting. All she said was a scam.

“Till date, I have not received any return on investment from the defendants. I have not even had any communication with the defendants. I have not equally received the principal sum that I invested,” she said.

Justice Akpan adjourned the matter till July 1, 2026, for cross-examination.
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Civil Servants Must Embrace Innovation, Digital Transformation, Excellence In Service Delivery – Perm. Sec. Information

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr. Binyerem C. Ukaire, has called on officers and staff of the Ministry to embrace innovation, continuous learning, digital transformation, teamwork and excellence in service delivery as critical tools for building a productive, citizen-centred and world-class public service.
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Dr. Ukaire made the call on Monday in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Civil Service Week Celebration, which commenced at the Ministry’s headquarters and will run from June 22 to June 28, 2026.

Welcoming participants to the event, the Permanent Secretary described the Civil Service Week as a significant annual celebration dedicated to recognising the invaluable contributions of civil servants to national development.

She commended members of staff for their commitment and sacrifices in ensuring effective public administration and national progress. “Today is your day. We are here to celebrate every one of you who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure continuity, stability and progress in public administration,” she said.

Speaking on the theme of the 2026 celebration, “Transforming Public Institutions Through Advancing Innovation, Participation and Inclusion,” Dr. Ukaire noted that the theme aligns with ongoing Federal Government reforms aimed at strengthening public institutions through technology-driven administration, enhanced capacity building, innovation and improved service delivery.

According to her, the Ministry must continue to play its strategic role as the engine room of government communication and national orientation while adapting to the evolving demands of modern governance.

She therefore urged staff to uphold the core values of the public service, including integrity, professionalism, accountability, patriotism and excellence. “Let us embrace innovation, continuous learning, teamwork and excellence in service delivery as we strive to deliver on the mandate entrusted to us by the Nigerian people,” she stated.

The Permanent Secretary further stressed the need for workers to remain committed to personal and professional development, noting that learning, adaptation and innovation are essential requirements for effective public service in the digital age.

She called on staff to recommit themselves to the vision of a responsive and efficient public service capable of supporting national development and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. “Change has come, but you are the ones who will make that change happen. Let us all play our part and put our hands on deck to actualise the vision of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation,” Dr. Ukaire added.

The Permanent Secretary also encouraged all officers and staff to actively participate in the week-long activities lined up for the celebration, including the special Juma’at prayer and interdenominational thanksgiving service.

The opening ceremony featured sensitisation presentations on the six pillars of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025), delivered by directors and senior officers of the Ministry.

Speaking on Pillar One: Capability Building, the Director, Public Communications, Barr. Henshaw Ogubike, emphasised the importance of continuous learning, talent management, mentoring and career development in building a competent and motivated workforce capable of meeting the demands of modern governance.

Representing the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Dickson Amaka highlighted the significance of the Performance Management System (PMS) in promoting accountability, productivity and alignment of individual performance with institutional objectives.

On Pillar Three: Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), the Deputy Director, Human Resources Management, Mr. Peter Davwet underscored the role of the platform in enhancing transparency, accountability and efficiency in payroll administration across the Federal Civil Service.

Delivering a presentation on Innovation, the Director, Production, Publicity and Documentary, Mr. Ibidapo Okunnu, encouraged staff to embrace creativity and innovative thinking as essential drivers of efficiency and improved service delivery, noting that innovation remains central to ongoing civil service reforms.

Similarly, the Deputy Director, ICT, Mr. Ifeanyi Okereke, who spoke on Digitalisation, stressed the importance of fully utilising government digital platforms, official email systems and emerging technologies to improve operational efficiency, transparency and inter-agency collaboration.

Speaking on Staff Welfare, the Director, Public Relations and Protocol, Dr. Haruna Suleiman, highlighted various initiatives introduced by the Federal Government to improve the wellbeing of civil servants, including career progression opportunities, housing schemes, loan facilities and improved working conditions.

Ministry of Information

Also speaking at the event, representatives of staff and labour unions pledged their continued support for reforms aimed at strengthening capacity development, staff welfare and institutional effectiveness, while urging workers to take ownership of the ongoing transformation agenda.

The opening ceremony marked the commencement of a week-long programme designed to celebrate the contributions of civil servants and deepen awareness of reforms aimed at repositioning the Federal Civil Service for greater efficiency, innovation and service delivery to Nigerians.

Suleiman Haruna, PhD,
Director, Public Relations and Protocol
Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation
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Monday, 22 June, 2026

EFCC Arraigns Two For Alleged Breach Of Trust In Abuja

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja Zonal Directorate has arraigned one Shamsudeen Lawal and Abubakar Abdulkadir before Justice A.Y. Shafa of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court Nyanya, Abuja.
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They were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence.

Count one reads “That you Shamsudeen Lawal, Abubakar Abdulkadir and another (at large) sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did agree amongst yourselves to commit an illegal act to wit: criminal breach of trust while being entrusted the sum of $180,000 USD (One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Dollars) being payment by Data Group for purchase of equipment to service MTN Nigeria Communication Ltd which money you sent to one Ahmed Sarki Mohammed based in Uganda for a different purpose which is in clear violation of the mode in which the trust was to be discharged and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Law, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990.and punishable under Section 97 of the same Law.”

Count two reads “That you Shamsudeen Lawal, Abubakar Abdulkadir another (still at large) sometime in 2024 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court while being entrusted the sum of $180,000 USD (One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Dollars) being payment by Data group for purchase of equipment to service MTN Nigeria Communication Ltd which money you sent to one Ahmed Sarki Mohammed based in Uganda for a different purpose which is in clear violation of the mode in which the trust was to be discharged and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of penal code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under section 312 of the same Law”.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.

EFCC

Following their plea, prosecution counsel, Mariya U. Shariff prayed the court for a date to commence trial.

Counsel to the defendants, J.U. Bolori applied for bail on behalf of his clients. The application was not opposed by the prosecution and Justice Shafa subsequently admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) with two sureties, one of which must be a business man with a means of livelihood and must swear to an affidavit on the bail bond.

Justice Shafa thereafter adjourned the matter till September 29, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
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