Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed June 5, 2025, to hear all pending applications in the N32 billion fraud case filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) against Victor Ukutt and Whoba Ugwunna Ogo (reportedly at large).
The case involves allegations of unlawful conversion of funds belonging to Woobs Resources Limited.
The court fixed the date following a request by the prosecution counsel, E.T.C. Emezina, to allow time to respond to a jurisdictional challenge raised by the defendants.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, Emezina appeared for the prosecution, while Femi Falana (SAN), represented the first and third defendants, and Ayodele Akintunde (SAN) appeared for the second and third defendants.
Emezina informed the court that there is a pending motion seeking to compel Ukutt’s appearance in the dock and urged the court to prioritize its hearing.
Falana (SAN) however opposed the request, citing a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the charge.
He argued that jurisdictional issues take precedence and must be determined before any further steps in the proceedings. He urged the court to dismiss the prosecution’s application.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa agreed that the application challenging jurisdiction must be heard and determined first.
Upon agreement by the parties, the court adjourned the matter to June 5, for hearing of the preliminary objection.
The Federal Government had earlier filed an eight-count charge against the defendants, accusing them of conspiracy, fraudulent conversion, obtaining by false pretenses, forgery, and money laundering.
The prosecution alleges that between 2011 and 2023, the defendants conspired to fraudulently convert about N32 billion from Woobs Resources Limited’s bank account in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
In response, the defendants filed preliminary objections under Section 305(1)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, and Sections 6(a), (b), and 295 of the Constitution. They are asking the court to dismiss the charges for lack of jurisdiction and abuse of process.
The defendants also seek a stay of proceedings pending resolution of a share ownership dispute over Woobs Resources Limited, which is before the Court of Appeal in Suit No. CA/L/343/2020.
hey argue that the criminal charges stem from a corporate dispute arising from a Joint Venture Agreement between the fourth defendant and the nominal complainant, Mr. James Onyemenam.
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