RismadarVoice Reporters
June 22, 2026
A prosecution witness 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, on Monday told a Federal High Court in Abuja how she allegedly lost N58.1 million in an investment scheme promoted by the defendants.
The witness, Chinyere Okoroafor, testified before Justice Ekerete Akpan as the first prosecution witness in a case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ologbose, his wife, and their companies are facing a seven-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence, conversion of funds and money laundering involving an alleged N740 million fraud.
At the commencement of proceedings, defence counsel, Peter Femi Joseph, sought an adjournment, stating that his legal team had only recently taken over the matter and had yet to receive some case documents from previous counsel.
However, the prosecution counsel, O.S. Ujam, opposed the request and insisted on proceeding with the trial. The court subsequently declined the application for adjournment and directed that the hearing continue.
While giving evidence, Okoroafor, a civil servant, told the court that she was introduced to the investment opportunity by Alice Ayeni Alade, a staff member of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM).
According to her, Alade presented the venture as a bitter-kola export business involving shipments to China, Hong Kong and Indonesia, where the produce was allegedly used for pharmaceutical purposes.
The witness said she was persuaded to invest because of the attractive returns promised and because the proposal was introduced by a banking professional.
“She introduced me to an investment business for the exportation of bitter-kola to China, Hong Kong and Indonesia. 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 trusted her,” she told the court.
Okoroafor further stated that she was informed that the business belonged to the defendants and was being operated through Onome Global Market Resources Limited.
She said investors were told that the business cycle would mature within eight weeks, after which they would receive their capital and profits.
The witness testified that she invested a total of N58.1 million, which she transferred into Alade’s Guaranty Trust Bank account.
According to her, the promised returns failed to materialise after the agreed period, and repeated inquiries were met with explanations ranging from flooding in China to fire outbreaks in Hong Kong and shipping-related challenges.
She told the court that both defendants later participated in discussions with investors and repeatedly pleaded for patience while assuring them that payments would be made.
“When it was time to pay the returns, we were told to be patient. They gave several reasons, including flooding in China, fire in Hong Kong and freight issues,” she said.
Okoroafor further testified that she later petitioned the EFCC after becoming convinced that the investment scheme was fraudulent.
She said Alade subsequently confirmed receiving the funds and allegedly provided evidence showing that the money had been transferred to the defendants.
The witness also claimed that the defendants attended a meeting organised by pastors of Living Faith Church in Sunny-Ville Estate, Abuja, where assurances were again given that investors would be paid within two weeks.
According to her, it was only later that she discovered there was allegedly no genuine investment arrangement and that the foreign business relationships presented to investors did not exist.
“To date, I have not received any return on investment from the defendants. I have not received my principal investment either,” she told the court.
Justice Akpan adjourned the matter until July 1, 2026, for cross-examination of the witness.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges and are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the court.
