By Nkechi Eze
The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, July 21, 2025, arraigned one Philip Ifejimalu Eze, Managing Director of Orimiri Oil and Gas, before Justice A.H. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja, on a one-count charge bordering on fraud involving the sum of N63 million.
According to an official statement signed by the Commission’s spokesperson Dele Oyewale, Eze is accused of defrauding Chief Amech Nduka of Amatex Oil and Gas under false pretenses by inducing the delivery of 45,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly known as diesel. The charge alleges that the defendant issued a cheque drawn on Mainstreet Bank Plc, fully aware that the bank had been liquidated and the cheque was no longer valid.
The charge reads in part: “That you, Philip Ifejimalu Eze while being the Managing Director of Orimiri Oil and Gas sometime in 2024 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud induced one Chief Amech Nduka of Amatex Oil and Gas to deliver 45,000 liters of Automatic Gas Oil valued at N63,000,000 (Sixty Three Million Naira only) which payment was made via a bank cheque of Mainstreet Bank Plc which you knew had already been liquidated as same was rejected at Zenith Bank Plc when presented for payment which pretense you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Upon arraignment, Eze pleaded not guilty to the charge. Prosecution counsel, Mariya Ujudud Shariff, thereafter applied for a date to commence trial.
Justice Musa granted the defendant bail on stringent conditions, requiring two sureties. One surety must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 12, who is to present a letter of introduction from his place of work for verification by the Court Registrar. The second surety must be a resident within the jurisdiction of the court, must depose to an affidavit, and execute a bail bond of N2 million.
The judge adjourned the case to November 11, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
