Court fixes January for trial of Lagos couple arrested over ‘N2.7bn fraud’

The special offences court sitting in Lagos has fixed January 10, 2024 for the commencement of trial of a couple,  Oriyomi Idowu and Ruth Idowu in a “N2.7 billion fraud” case.

Oriyomi and Ruth were arrested and arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over a 20-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering, stealing, retention of stolen property, and forgery to the tune of N2,757,188,000.

They were arraigned alongside Food Commodity Processing Enterprise, Bonway Food Processing Company Limited, Samee Idowu Company Limited and Farmex Integrated Companies Limited.

According to the EFCC, all the companies belong to Ruth.

The couple pleaded not guilty to the all the charges levelled against them.

The court had adjourned the case till December 15, 2023 for hearing of their bail applications.

FRIDAY PROCEEDINGS

In a statement released via X, the anti-graft agency said the couple appeared before the special offences court, on Friday.

Ruth is the first defendant, while her husband, Oriyomi, is the second defendant.

During the proceedings, James Alara, counsel to Ruth, told the court that he was withdrawing an earlier motion for the bail of his client and replacing it with a new one.

Alara said he was including the medical reports of the health status of the defendant.

Responding, Bilikisu Buhari, counsel to the EFCC, said the prosecution team received the new application on December 11, 2023.

Buhari said the medical reports attached to the new bail application must be verified by the prosecution team.

BAIL APPLICATION FOR THE HUSBAND

On his part, Babatunde Ogala, counsel to Oriyomi, the second defendant, asked the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

Ogala said Oriyomi has no criminal records and has never been charged to court before now.

He added that his client was granted an administrative bail by the EFCC, noting that he did not jump bail.

In her ruling, Mojisola Dada, the trial judge, granted bail to Oriyomi in the sum of N250 million with two sureties in like sum.

The sureties must show means of gainful employment and should agree to have a lien placed on their bank accounts.

The defendant was also ordered to deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of the court.

The trial judge adjourned the bail application of the first defendant till December 20, 2023.

The trial was adjourned to commence on January 10 and February 2, 2024.