Wilson Opuwei, Dateline Energy Arragned By EFCC For Alleged $550,000 Fraud

Wilson Opuwei, a businessman alongside his company, Dateline Energy Services Ltd have been arraigned by The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged $550,000 fraud.

Opuwei was docked on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretences and stealing.

Count one reads:

” Wilson E. A. Opuwei and Dateline Energy Services Ltd sometimes in April 2011 at Lagos within the Ikeja judicial division with intent to defraud obtained the sum of $500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) through one Chimaobi Anyast, from Prince Donatus Okonkwo under the false pretence that the money represent payment for allocation of 5000 metric tons of Due Purpose Kerosene (DPK) to him from Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC) which pretence you knew was false”.

Count Two reads:

“Wilson E. A. Opuwei and Dateline Energy Services Ltd sometimes in April 2011 Lagos within the Ikeja judicial division with intent to defraud obtained the sum $50,000 (Fifty Thousand Dollars) through one Chimaobi Anyaso from Prince Donatus Okonkwo under the false pretence that the money represent part payment for allocation of 5000 metric tons of Due Purpose Kerosene (DPK) to him from Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC) which pretence you knew was false”.

The defendant was previously arraigned on May 23, 2011, before Justice Habeeb Abiru of the Lagos State High Court. The matter was transferred to Justice Fadipe for the trial to commence de novo.

According to the prosecution, led by Nwandu Ukoha, who is holding brief for Fadeke Giwa, Opuwei allegedly obtained the sum of $550,000 sometime in April 2011 in Lagos from a businessman, Prince Donatus Okonkwo, under the false pretence that he would supply him 5000 metric tonnes of kerosene from the Pipeline Products and Marketing Company (PPMC), a representation he knew to be false.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.