They Showed Me CAC
OpenLife News reports that a businessman, Ikechukwu Chikelum, has narrated before the Federal High Court in Abuja how he was allegedly defrauded of over N500 million by 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.
Chikelum, who testified as the third prosecution witness, PW3, on Thursday, September 24, 2026, before Justice Ekerete Akpan, said the couple and their accomplice, Alice Ayeni, lured him into a fake bitter kola export investment and neither returned his capital nor paid any profit.
The defendants, alongside their two companies, 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, contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(4) of the same Act.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, O.S. Ujam, the witness told the court he was introduced to the investment in June 2023 by his friend, Modestus Uche Okafor, who took him to Ayeni, a director of Onome Global Market Resources Limited, at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank, NEXIM Bank.
He said Ayeni showed him the company profile containing photographs of the CEO, Onome, and her husband Alex, as well as Corporate Affairs Commission certificate, EFCC’s Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, SCUML, certificate and Nigerian Export Promotion Council certificates, which convinced him the business was genuine.
“When I opened the profile, I saw the Chief Executive Officer as Onome Alex. I also saw the CEO’s husband’s picture there, Alex. I also noticed that Ayeni is one of the directors.
“I saw the Corporate Affairs Commission certificate, the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering certificate from the EFCC, and the Export Promotion Council certificate. I was convinced that it was a genuine business to invest in,” he said.
Chikelum said he initially invested N31 million for 100 bags of bitter kola at N310,000 per bag, transferred from his Ecobank account to an account belonging to Ayobola Anike Ventures provided by Ayeni.
He said after telling his friend he had more funds, Ayeni encouraged further investment and he transferred another N62 million for 200 bags for export to China.
“Madam Ayeni said she needed more investors. Subsequently, I transferred the sum of N267,220,000 to her for 862 bags of bitter kola to China.
“After two weeks, I transferred another N220,150,000 to Ayeni through Ayobola Anike Ventures account for 710 bags of bitter kola for export to Hong Kong,” he narrated.
He added that three days later, he transferred N20,400,000 for 60 bags of red kolanut for export to Indonesia to a GTBank account provided by Ayeni bearing the first name Alice. He said all receipts were forwarded to Ayeni via WhatsApp and acknowledged.
The witness said after waiting eight weeks without any return, he and Modestus visited Ayeni’s office and were taken to Onome’s residence where they were assured payment within two weeks.
When the payment failed, Onome allegedly created a WhatsApp group for investors and later convened a meeting at Living Faith Church, Lokogoma, Abuja, attended by Onome, her husband Alex, Ayeni, investors and three pastors of the church.
“During the meeting, the third defendant attributed the delay to the shipment of the bitter kola, claiming that the ship had finally arrived in Hong Kong and appealed to them to wait for another two weeks,” he said.
He said after another month of waiting, he and other investors engaged a lawyer who petitioned the EFCC.
“A few investors, including Modestus and I, came together to meet a lawyer. We gave the senior lawyer evidence of all the transfers made by us. The lawyer sent a petition to the EFCC. The EFCC invited us to come and adopt our petition.
That is why we are here. Till date, I have not received my capital or return from the investment from the defendants,” he told the court.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Femi Peter Joseph, Chikelum maintained that his total investment with Ayobola Anike Ventures and Alice Alade Ayeni was above N500 million.Justice Akpan adjourned the matter till November 3, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.
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