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, resumed on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court in Abuja, as the second prosecution witness (PW2), Modestus Uchenna Okafor, recounted how the couple’s alleged accomplice, Alice Ayeni, persuaded him to transfer N28,080,000 into her bank account.
The defendants, together with their firms, Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited, are facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a seven-count charge involving alleged obtaining by false pretence, diversion of funds and money laundering amounting to N740 million, contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(4) of the same Act.
While giving evidence before the court, the witness, an officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), explained that he met Ayeni at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), where he had gone to seek information about the procedures for exporting ginger, garlic and other agricultural products, as well as obtaining financing for the business.
During examination-in-chief by the prosecution counsel, O.S. Ujam, the witness said Ayeni introduced him to the second defendant, Onome Global Market Resources Limited, and assured him that the company was suitable for business transactions.
“She brought out the profile of the second defendant and told us that the second defendant is registered with the Corporate Affair Commission, CAC, with NEXIM certificate, and EFCC’s SCUML certificate. Alice Ayeni also told us that she is a director and a partner in the company. She gave us the profile of the second defendant for us to look at and we confirmed what she said to the truth. She also told us that she is a manager in NEXIM bank,” he said.
Continuing his testimony, the witness stated that “Alice also told us that the second defendant, Onome Global has a request to export 30 bags of bitter kola to Hong Kong and that she is also an investor and has 10 slots from the 30 bags of bitter kola requested from Hong Kong. She said she will give me two bags to invest, meaning that she will allow me to invest in the two bags of bitter kola. She gave me an account number to pay the sum of N620,000, that is N310,000 for each bag.”
In response to questions from the prosecution counsel, he said he initially transferred N620,000 into an account provided by Ayeni, who confirmed receiving the payment. He added that he subsequently paid N28,080,000 directly into Alade’s account for the export of bitter kola and red kola nuts to Hong Kong, China, and Indonesia.
