Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting
in Ikeja, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, adjourned till February 2, 2024 the
alleged N2.7bn fraud trial involving a couple, Ruth and Oriyomi Idowu.
The couple was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,
on Tuesday November 28, 2023, on 20-count charges
bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, stealing,
retention of stolen property and forgery to the tune of N2,757,188,000.00 (Two
Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, One Hundred and
Eighty-eight Thousand Naira Only).
They were arraigned alongside Food Commodity Processing
Enterprise, Bonway Food Processing Company Limited, Samee Idowu Company Limited
and Farmex Integrated Companies Limited, which all belong to Ruth Idowu.
Count one reads: "Ruth Sameeha Idowu , aka Loiry
Ventures, Oriyomi Kabeer Idowu, aka Yocli Ventures, Food Commodity
Processing Enterprise, Bonway Food Processing Company Ltd., Samee Idowu Company
Limited, Farmex Integrated Companies Limited, between 31st of March 2022 and
17th of May 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court,
conspired amongst yourselves by false pretence that you had a genuine Local
Purchase Order (LPO) from various vendors and with intent to defraud, obtained
from Creditpro Business Support Services Ltd the sum of N2,757,188,000.00 ((Two
Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Seven Million,
One Hundred and Eighty-eight Thousand Naira Only).
Another count reads: "Ruth Sameeha Idowu, aka
Loiry Ventures, Oriyomi Kabeer Idowu aka Yocli Ventures, Food Commodity
Processing Enterprise, Bonway Food Processing Company Ltd., Samee Idowu Company
Limited, Farmex Integrated Companies Limited, sometime in 2023 in Lagos, within
the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, converted the sum of N10,000,000 to
purchase a GLK Benz, purchase sum derived from converting the sum of
N500,000,000 belonging to Creditpro Business Support Services with the aim of
disguising the illegal origin of the funds."
At Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel, A.O.
Mohammed, informed the court that his witness was unavoidably absent in court.
"Up until yesterday, the witness gave an indication of
appearing in court. But yesterday, there was an unexpected change in the
situation. I apologise to the court and to the defence," he said.
Responding, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, informed the court that he
came prepared for the trial. He, however, added that “It was only this morning,
while seated here, that I was informed that the witness is not here and that
they are not ready to go on; and so, will seek an adjournment.”
The counsel to the first defendan ,James Alara also aligned
with Ogala. He further urged the court to take notice that the stalling
of the proceedings was at the instance of the prosecution.
Apologising for the development, Mohammed prayed the court
for a short adjournment.
Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the case till February
2, 2024.
