Philip Ifejimalu Eze, an oil tycoon and chief executive officer of ORIMIRI OIL AND GAS, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice A.H. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo-Abuja, over an alleged N63 million fraud.
According to the charge, Philip Ifejimalu Eze allegedly deceived one Chief Amech Nduka of AMATEX OIL AND GAS into supplying 45,000 litres of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) worth ₦63,000,000. Payment for the product was made using a cheque from Mainstreet Bank Plc, a bank that had already been liquidated. The cheque was dishonoured when presented at Zenith Bank Plc, making it clear that Eze issued the cheque knowing it was invalid.
The charge reads:Â “That you, Philip Ifejimalu Eze, while being the Managing Director of Orimiri Oil and Gas sometime in 2024 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, induced one Chief Amech Nduka of Amatex Oil and Gas to deliver 45,000 liters of Automotive Gas Oil valued at N63,000,000 (Sixty-Three Million Naira only) which payment was made via a bank cheque of Mainstreet Bank Plc which you knew had already been liquidated, as same was rejected at Zenith Bank Plc when presented for payment, which pretense you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Eze pleaded not guilty to the charge. Following this, the prosecution counsel, Mariya Ujudud Shariff, requested a date for the commencement of trial.
Justice Musa granted Eze bail with strict conditions. He must provide two sureties—one of whom must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 12, with a verifiable letter of introduction from their workplace.
The other surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, swear to an affidavit, and sign a ₦2,000,000 bail bond.
The matter was adjourned to November 11, 2025, for trial to begin.
