…Secretary petitions EFCC; alleges forgery, fraudulent use of name to obtain court order
Christopher Oruete, the Secretary of Ronchess Global Resources Plc, has formally lodged a comprehensive petition with Olanipekun Olukoyede, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), levelling grave allegations of wrongdoing against the company and its retained legal counsel.
The petition, which details serious offences allegedly perpetrated by the company, specifically implicates Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who has been serving as the company’s legal representative.
In his petition, Oruete sought the EFCC’s urgent intervention to investigate and address the alleged transgressions, which, if proven, would constitute a breach of trust, ethics, and the law.
Oruete accused Adegboruwa of impersonating him, stealing his identity, and forging his signature to obtain a court order without his knowledge or consent on behalf of Ronchess Global Resources Plc.
Oruete, whose name was used by the company to obtain a restraining order, said his signature was forged to obtain the order.
The petition requests the EFCC to investigate and take appropriate action against Adegboruwa for these alleged criminal activities.
On August 28, 2024, SaharaReporters reported that Adeolu Adeboye, son of Redeemed Christian Church of God’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, had received over N8 billion from Kaduna State Government for a contract, but abandoned the project after 30% completion.
SaharaReporters reported that Adeolu secured the contract through Ronchess Global Resources Plc during former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration, and had been evading accountability for the unfinished project.
Following Kaduna State Government and House of Assembly’s probe into the alleged fraud, the cleric’s son filed a suit (FHC/L/CS/1206/24) at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
It was reported that Adeolu sought an injunction restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna State Government, and the House of Assembly from arresting or detaining him over the abandoned N17.26 billion project.
The EFCC, Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Kaduna State Government and Kaduna State House of Assembly are the 1st to 6th Respondents respectively.
However, Ronchess Global Resources Plc denied that Adeolu Adeboye and one of its Board of Directors received over N8 billion from Kaduna State Government for a contract, and abandoned the project after 30% completion.
It admitted that the projects were left, but said they were stopped because the Kaduna State Government failed to pay for the projects executed/completed amounting to N1,391,782, 486.45 (N1.39 billion).
While the firm admitted that Pastor Adeolu Adeboye is a member of the board of Ronchess Global Resources Plc, it, however, said he was not part of the company when the contracts were awarded.
The firm said Adeolu joined in 2021.
“In fact, Pastor Adeolu Adeboye was not even instrumental to the award of the contracts. He (Pastor Adeolu) was neither a Board member nor a Shareholder of Ronchess at the time the Contract was awarded to Ronchess,” it said.
Meanwhile, Oruete in the petition through Xtrime Lawfirm dated August 13, 2024, stated that he was made an applicant in the order obtained before Justice K. O. Ogundare, and filed in the suit no: FHC/L/CS/1208/2024. He said it was filed without his authority.
Titled: “Re: A Complaint Against Acts Of Impersonation, Identity Theft And Forgery: A Demand For Explanation,” addressed to the EFCC chairman with attention of one Mr. Friday S. Ebelo, the petitioner noted that Order was obtained to restrain the EFCC, Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Kaduna State Government and Kaduna House of Assembly from arresting or detaining the applicants.
In his letter to the EFCC chairman, seeking an investigation into the matter, Oruete said, “This is to bring to your attention, the gross impersonation, identity theft and forgery of my person as an applicant in the Order obtained before Justice K.O. Ogundare filed in the suit no: FHC/L/CS/1208/2024 without my consent and authority by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) on behalf of Ronchess Global Resources Plc.”
He said that “while I supposedly appeared as applicant in the said order, one Tope Adebosin whom I know to be a director of Ronchess Global Resources Plc, deposed to an affidavit of Urgency on the order without my consent and approval”.
He said, “Upon my discovery of the order and the accompanying papers obtained via my application to the Registrar of the court dated August 8th, 2024, I wrote to the Chairman of the board – Mr. Adeolu Adeboye, the CEO Mr. Jackson Ukuevo and the Executive Director Mr. Tope Adebosin, demanding for an explanation of same.
“Proactively, I have decided to notify your office that I am not an applicant in the said matter.”
The petition was copied to Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone 2 Lagos, Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Governor of Kaduna State and the Clerk of the Kaduna House of Assembly.
In an affidavit sworn to at the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Oruete identified himself as the company’s secretary to Ronchess Global Resources Plc with RC No: 771515.
He stated in the affidavit: “That my attention was recently drawn to a Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1208/24 instituted in my name at the Federal High Court Lagos Division without my consent, authority and knowledge.
“That I did not authorize any person or persons or entity to file any court processes on my behalf or obtained any Order of court restraining Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Kaduna State Government and or Kaduna State House of Assembly.
“That I did not sign any document or court processes to be filed or filed in respect of Suit No: FHC/L/CS/1208/24 and that every document sign or filed are without my consent and authority for such documents or processes filed before the court leading to the Order being obtained in respect of the said suit.
“That I have written a complaint letter to the directors of the company demanding for explanation on how my name was used to institute Suit No: FIIC/L/CS/1208. And that up until now, the company’s directors have not given me any tangible explanation.
“That I did not receive any invitation letter from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Kaduna State Government and or Kaduna State House of Assembly, in respect of contract between Ronchess Global Resources Pic and Kaduna State Government.
“That I know as a fact, that I am not a director in the board of Ronchess Global Resources Plc.
“That I know as a fact, that I did not at any time involve in the negotiation and documentation of any contract between Ronchess Global Resources Plc and Kaduna State Government.
“That I do not have access to the account or funds of Ronchess Global Resources Plc. And also I did not have access to the assets of the company.
“That I have never involved in the day to day management of Ronchess Global Resources Plc and also that I do not know how the funds of Ronchess Global Resources Plc is being managed.
“That I have not seen or received any contract agreement or agreements between Ronchess Global Resources Plc and any of her client.
“That I deposed to this affidavit for record purpose and for the general public and the respondents in Suit No: FHC/CS/1208/24 to take cognizance of the fact that I was made an applicant without my knowledge, consensus authority and that I did not authorized any person or persons and or entity to file court case in the said suit and or any other suit against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the inspector-General of Police, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, Legos State Command, Kaduna State Government and or Kaduna State House of Assembly in respect of any contract between Ronchess Global Resources Plc and Kaduna State Government.
“That I do hereby solemnly and conscientiously swear to this affidavit in good faith believing same to be true and in accordance with the provisions of the Oath Act.”
The affidavit which SaharaReporters obtained on Monday was sworn to at the High Court of Justice in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory on August 11, 2024.
However, efforts made by our correspondent to reach Adegboruwa failed as he did not immediately answer calls to his mobile lines or reply to text messages sent to him.
Ronchess Global Resources Plc, in a rejoinder with Ref: A&C/RC/PUB-01/08/2024, and titled “Pastor Adeolu Adeboye was never awarded any contract by the Kaduna State Government,” said that the road contracts were not abandoned on its own accord, insisting that the projects were stopped because the Kaduna State Government failed to pay for the projects executed/completed amounting to the tune of N1,391,782, 486.45.
“In fact, Pastor Adeolu Adeboye was not even instrumental to the award of the contracts. He (Pastor Adeolu) was neither a Board member nor a Shareholder of Ronchess at the time the Contract was awarded to Ronchess,” it said.
Ronchess Global Resources Plc, however, maintained that Pastor Adeolu Adeboye being a Nigerian is allowed by the laws to participate in any legitimate business he so desires.
“While we admit that Pastor Adeolu Adeboye is presently a Director in Ronchess, it must however be stated that Ronchess is a legal entity duly registered in Nigeria with full legal capacity.
“Pastor Adeolu Adeboye being a Nigerian like you and I, is allowed by Nigerian laws to participate in any legitimate business he so desires. Ronchess indeed executed several contracts in Kaduna State that transformed the State and it is entitled to be paid as such.
“Imperative to state is that there is a huge difference between a company as a legal entity and its Directors and as a matter of fact, Pastor Adeolu Adeboye is not the only Director of the Company. The entire facts culminating into the Directors’ persecution is purely civil in nature,” the company insisted.
