On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja adjourned the alleged N2.7bn fraud trial involving a couple, Ruth and Oriyomi Idowu, until February 2, 2024.

The couple was arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, facing 20-count charges related to obtaining money by false pretense, money laundering, stealing, retention of stolen property, and forgery, amounting to N2,757,188,000.00 (Two Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million, One Hundred and Eighty-eight Thousand Naira Only).

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

Count one reads: "Ruth Sameeha Idowu, aka Loiry Ventures, Oriyomi Kabeer Idowu, aka Yocli Ventures, Food Commodity Processing Enterprise, Bonway Food Processing Company Ltd., Samee Idowu Company Limited, Farmex Integrated Companies Limited, between March 31, 2022, and May 17, 2023, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to obtain N2,757,188,000.00 by false pretense, claiming to have a genuine Local Purchase Order (LPO) from various vendors, with the intent to defraud, obtained from Creditpro Business Support Services Ltd."

Another count reads: "Ruth Sameeha Idowu, aka Loiry Ventures, Oriyomi Kabeer Idowu, aka Yocli Ventures, Food Commodity Processing Enterprise, Bonway Food Processing Company Ltd., Samee Idowu Company Limited, Farmex Integrated Companies Limited, sometime in 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court, converted the sum of N10,000,000 to purchase a GLK Benz. The purchase sum was derived from converting N500,000,000 belonging to Creditpro Business Support Services with the aim of disguising the illegal origin of the funds."

During Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecution counsel A.O. Mohammed informed the court that his witness was unavoidably absent.

"Up until yesterday, the witness indicated appearing in court. But yesterday, an unexpected change occurred. I apologize to the court and the defense," he said.

Responding, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, informed the court that he came prepared for the trial. However, he added, “It was only this morning, while seated here, that I was informed that the witness is not here, and they are not ready to proceed, so we will seek an adjournment.”

The counsel to the first defendant, James Alara, also aligned with Ogala, urging the court to take notice that the stalling of the proceedings was at the instance of the prosecution.

Apologizing for the development, Mohammed prayed the court for a short adjournment.

Consequently, Justice Dada adjourned the case until February 2, 2024.