An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday told a Lagos court how a businessman, Peter Otomewu, allegedly defrauded a petroleum services company, Virgin Forest Energy Limited, of $75,000 under the pretence of providing a vessel for petroleum transhipment operations.
The EFCC operative, Felicia Paul, gave the testimony before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
Paul told the court that the defendant falsely claimed to own a vessel identified as “MT AYSU,” which he said was capable of transhipping petroleum products from a mother vessel.
Otomewu and his company, Pebeto Enerji Limited, were earlier arraigned by the EFCC before Justice Dada on June 24, 2025, on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.
Prosecuting counsel, Owede Spiff, told the court that the defendants allegedly committed the offences in 2018 by making false representations to the petitioner and collecting money for a service that was never executed.
According to the prosecution, the defendants dishonestly converted the entire $75,000 belonging to Virgin Forest Energy Limited for personal use.
The alleged offences contravene Sections 278, 278(1) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, as well as Section 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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While being led in evidence, Paul told the court that the first defendant presented himself to the complainant as the owner of the vessel MT AYSU and convinced the company that the vessel could move petroleum products from a mother vessel.
She said based on that representation, the petitioner paid the defendant $75,000 in two instalments to facilitate the operation.
According to her, the total sum agreed for the project was $100,000, but the complainant initially paid $50,000 in cash and later made an additional payment of $25,000.
“The defendant issued receipts for the payments but failed to complete the work,” Paul told the court.
She further stated that when the complainant demanded a refund, the defendant returned $25,000, leaving an outstanding balance of $50,000.
Paul also told the court that investigations revealed that the defendant’s company is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission but not with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, the regulatory body overseeing the sector.
According to her, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency confirmed that the vessel MT AYSU is not registered in Nigeria and is not authorised to operate in Nigerian waters.
She added that further inquiries showed that another vessel with a similar name is registered under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Following the testimony, Justice Dada adjourned the case until April 20, 2026, for continuation of trial.
