- Ufoma Joseph Immanuel
Admin I Tuesday, 31.2025
IKEJA, Nigeria – Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, today reserved 7th May, to rule on a bail application filed by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Chappal Energies, Ufoma Joseph, who is standing trial over an alleged $1.5 million oil fraud.
The court fixed the date after ordering that Ufoma be remanded in Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC custody pending the determination of the bail application.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the defendant, Olawale Akoni (SAN), urged the court to grant his client bail application, supporting his request with an affidavit.
Akoni told the court that the defendant had suffered seizures while in EFCC custody, requiring urgent medical attention from doctors.
He further pleaded with the court to release Ufoma on self-recognisance or, in the alternative, allow him to remain in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
But counsel to the EFCC, Babatunde Shonoiki, opposed the bail application, arguing that the defendant posed a flight risk.
Shonoiki also opposed to the application of the learned silk of releasing defendant to him on self-recognisance, reminding the court of similar circumstance where a defendant was released to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the defendant flee the country till today.
“We are opposing to the bail application of the defendant. The defendant is a flight risk whom was given bail by the commission and failed to honour the terms of the bail
“He has two sureties at the commission. His lawyer and another person. Immediately he was granted bail and this charge was filed against him his lawyer refused the service of the charge. He was saying service is personal.
“We are also opposing to granting him bail to the Senior Advocate. The reason being that the court should be reminded that similar application was granted by this court and the defendant ran away till today,” prosecution said.
Sonoiki further cited an alleged incident outside the courtroom at the last hearing and added that the defendant had been filing multiple applications in different courts, which could delay the trial.
“We also want to remind the court of the situation last time when the senior lawyer who appeared for the defendant was blocking the path of our counsel.
“If a Senior Advocate of Nigeria can block the path of our counsel we don’t know what will happen if the defendant is granting bail,” he said.
He further told the court that Ufoma currently possesses two international passports, raising concerns over his likelihood to be available for trial in the $1.5 million oil fraud case.
“The defendant is holding two passports. He ha a Nigeria passport and British passport, and this could pose a great danger for the defendant to be granted bail,’ EFCC counsel said.
In a short ruling, Justice Dada directed the defendant to submit the two international passports to the EFCC without delay before the next hearing date.
Ufoma is facing trial alongside Intermediate Investment Holdings Limited on a two-count charge bordering on $1.5 million oil fraud, including obtaining by false pretence and forgery.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences contravene Section 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 363 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges at arraignment.
