The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned oil businessman, Philip Ifejimalu Eze, and a company allegedly linked to him, Orimiri Oil and Gas, over an alleged N63 million diesel fraud.
The arraignment took place on Monday, July 21, 2025, before Justice A.H. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja. The defendants face a one-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud, according to a statement from the EFCC.
Alleged Offence
According to the EFCC, Eze allegedly induced one Chief Amech Nduka of Amatex Oil and Gas to deliver 45,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), worth ₦63,000,000, using a cheque drawn from the now-defunct Mainstreet Bank Plc. The cheque was rejected by Zenith Bank Plc, indicating that Eze allegedly knew the bank was liquidated at the time.
The EFCC claims the act violated Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The Charge
The formal charge reads:
“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 litres of AGO worth N63,000,000 via a cheque from Mainstreet Bank Plc, which had already been liquidated and was rejected at Zenith Bank. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Court Proceedings
When the charge was read in court, Eze pleaded not guilty. The prosecution counsel, Mariya Ujudud Shariff, then requested a date to begin trial.
Eze’s defence team, however, applied for bail, urging the court to consider liberal terms.
In his ruling, Justice Musa granted bail, setting the following conditions:
- Two sureties, one of whom must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 12
- The civil servant must provide a letter of introduction from their employer, to be verified by the Court Registrar
- The second surety must own property within the court’s jurisdiction and depose to an affidavit
- Both sureties must sign a ₦2 million bail bond
Next Steps
The matter was adjourned to November 11, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
