An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Felicia Paul, on Monday told a Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja how a businessman, Peter Otomewu, allegedly defrauded a petroleum services company, Virgin Forest Energy Limited, of $75,000 in a failed vessel transaction.
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Testifying before Justice Mojisola Dada, the EFCC witness said Otomewu allegedly obtained the money under false pretences by claiming he had access to a vessel, identified as MT AYSU, which he said was capable of transshipping petroleum products from a mother vessel.
Otomewu and his company, Pebeto Energy Limited, were 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.
According to the prosecution, led by EFCC counsel, Spiff Owede, the alleged offences were committed in 2018.
The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendants falsely represented that they could provide a vessel for the petroleum operation and that the funds paid by the complainant were never used for the stated purpose.
The EFCC further accused Otomewu and his firm of dishonestly converting the sum of $75,000, belonging to Virgin Forest Energy Limited, for personal use.
The prosecution said 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.
Both defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
While being led in evidence, Felicia Paul told the court that the first defendant presented himself to the complainant as the owner of a vessel named MT AYSU, purportedly available to transship petroleum products from a mother vessel.
She said the complainant, relying on that representation, paid the defendant $75,000 in two instalments to facilitate the movement of petroleum products.
According to the witness, the total agreed contract sum was $100,000, out of which the defendant allegedly received $50,000 in cash and an additional $25,000.
She added that receipts were issued for the payments, but the defendant allegedly failed to execute the job as agreed.
“The complainant later demanded a refund. The defendant refunded $25,000, leaving an outstanding balance of $50,000,” the EFCC operative told the court.
Paul further testified that investigations by the commission revealed that Pebeto Energy Limited was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) but was not registered with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the sector’s regulatory body.
She also told the court that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) confirmed that the vessel, MT AYSU, was not registered in Nigeria and was not authorised to operate in Nigerian waters.
According to her, further checks showed that a different vessel bearing a similar name was registered under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Following the testimony, Justice Dada adjourned the case until April 20, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
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