The trial of Queen Oluchi Duruibe over an alleged ₦238.6 million investment fraud continued before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Apo, Abuja, with the complainant recounting how he allegedly released the money after the defendant promised to facilitate a ₦10 billion investment in his real estate company.
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Duruibe is standing trial before Justice Y. Halilu on a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on investment fraud and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of ₦238.6 million.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, October 15, 2026, the prosecution’s first witness, Promise Egwim, told the court during cross-examination by defence counsel, O.R. Odisa, that the ₦238.6 million represented part payment of a 10 per cent commission he allegedly agreed to pay Duruibe for facilitating the proposed ₦10 billion investment in his company, Profilled World Homes.
According to Egwim, Duruibe represented herself as someone capable of sourcing investors for the company and allegedly informed him that a ₦3 billion investment was already available but that he needed to release money before the transaction could proceed.
“The total sum of ₦238,600,000 that I gave her was part of the 10 per cent of ₦10 billion investment she promised to bring for my company,” the witness told the court.
“She even said that there was already a ₦3 billion investment on the ground on that day and that if I didn’t release the money, she would not be able to bring the deal.”
Egwim further alleged that he initially did not want to authorise one of the payments but eventually did so after pressure from the defendant.
“I did not want to approve the cheque, but she pressured me to speak with my account officer to approve the cheque,” he testified.
The witness also told the court that Duruibe allegedly promised to supply bags of cement worth the amount paid to her if she failed to deliver the promised investment.
“She even promised that she would supply bags of cement worth the amount if she was unable to deliver, which she did not. The money belongs to my company, Profilled World Homes,” Egwim said.
According to the EFCC, the case arose from a petition alleging that Duruibe presented herself as a real estate investment facilitator who could help Egwim secure investors for Profilled World Homes.
The commission alleged that, based on the representation, the complainant issued two Zenith Bank cheques valued at ₦97 million and ₦41 million respectively, in addition to other cash payments and bank transfers, bringing the total amount allegedly paid to ₦238.6 million.
The prosecution’s case is that despite receiving the money, Duruibe allegedly failed to secure the promised ₦10 billion investment and also failed to refund the ₦238.6 million allegedly paid to her.
Duruibe was arraigned on April 30, 2026, over the allegations.
Justice Halilu adjourned the matter until November 25, 2026, for continuation of trial.
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