By Ayorinde Oluokun
A businessman identified as Ikechukwu Chikelum has narrated how a couple, Osabohein Alex Ologbose, his wife, Hope Onome Oghelemu, and their accomplice, Alice Ayeni, allegedly lured him into investing over N500 million fake bitter kola export business through their companies.
Chikelum revealed this while testifying as the third prosecution witness in the trial of Ologbose who is the Chief Executive Officer of Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited, and his wife, Oghelemu on Thursday, September 24, 2026, before Justice Ekerete Akpan of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The defendants, alongside their two companies, Onome Global Market Resources Limited and Lexicon Multi-concept Media Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a seven-count charge, bordering on obtaining by false pretence, conversion of funds and money laundering to the tune of N740 million contrary to Section 18(2)(b) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022 and punished under Section 18(4) of the same Act.
Chikelum told the court that he was introduced to the investment by his friend, Modestus Uche Okafor, who subsequently took him to Ayeni, a director of Onome Global Market Resources Limited.
Led in examination-in-chief by prosecution counsel, O.S. Ujam, the witness narrated that he became interested in investing in the companies in June 2023 after his friend told him about the couple’s profitable business of exporting “bitter kola” to China and Hong Kong.
He said Ayeni, whom he met at the Nigerian Export-Import, NEXIM Bank, explained the investment to him and showed him the profile of Onome Global Market Resources Limited.
According to him, the profile contained the name and photograph of the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Onome, as well as the company’s Corporate Affairs Commission certificate, EFCC’s Special Control Unit against Money Laundering certificate and export promotion certificates. The documents, he said, convinced him that the business was genuine and prompted him to initially invest in the export of 100 bags of “bitter kola.”
He told the court that each bag cost N310,000 (Three Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira), adding that he transferred N31million from his Ecobank account to an account belonging to Ayobola Anike Ventures, provided by Ayeni for the 100 bags.
Chikelum said, “Modestus and I met Madam Alice Ayeni at NEXIM Bank. She explained the investment to me and gave me a profile of the company, Onome Global Market Resources Limited, which they use in exporting ‘bitter kola’ to China and Hong Kong. When I opened the profile, I saw the Chief Executive Officer as Onome Alex. I also saw the CEO’s husband’s picture there, Alex.
“I also noticed that Ayeni is one of the directors of Onome Global Market Resources Limited. I saw the Corporate Affairs Commission certificate, the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering certificate from the EFCC, and the Export Promotion Council certificate. I was convinced that it was a genuine business to invest in.
The witness also disclosed that he subsequently transferred another N62 million for 200 bags of ‘bitter kola’ after Ayeni allegedly informed him that he could invest more and further transferred N267,220,000 million for 862 bags of ‘bitter kola’ for export to China, followed by another N220,150,000 million for 710 bags for export to Hong Kong. And also transferred N20,400,000 million for 60 bags of red ‘kolanut’ intended for export to Indonesia. The witness said all the payment receipts were forwarded to Ayeni via WhatsApp and were acknowledged by her.
Testifying further, Chikelum disclosed that he confided in his friend, Modestus, that he still had more money available, resulting in his further investment in the purported business.
“I told my friend that I had more money to reinvest. He called Ayeni to inquire if I could further reinvest. Ayeni said that she had called Onome and that she said I could proceed to invest further. I then invested another N62 million for 200 bags of ‘bitter kola’ for export to China. I forwarded the receipt to Ayeni. She confirmed receipt of the money via the same WhatsApp platform.
“Madam Ayeni said she needed more investors. Subsequently, I transferred the sum of N267,220,000 to her for 862 bags of bitter kola to China. After two weeks, I transferred another N220,150,000 to Ayeni through Ayobola Anike Ventures account for 710 bags of bitter kola for export to Hong Kong.
“Three days later, I transferred the sum of N20,400,000 for 60 bags of red ‘kolanuts’ to Indonesia. The money was transferred to a GTbank account which Madam Ayeni provided, with the first name as Alice, but I cannot remember the surname. I sent all the receipts of the funds I transferred to Ayeni, and she acknowledged all the receipts sent to her.”
Further in his testimony, the witness stated that after waiting for eight weeks without receiving any return on investment, he alongside his friend, Modestus, visited Ayeni’s office to demand an explanation. According to him, Ayeni later took them to the residence of the third defendant, Onome, where they were assured that the return on investment would be paid within two weeks. And when the promised payment did not materialise, Onome, he said, created a WhatsApp group for investors, through which she communicated with investors.
He further told the court that a meeting was subsequently held in Living Faith Church, Lokogoma, Abuja, comprising Onome, her husband, Alex, Ayeni, himself, a few other investors, and the three pastors of the church.
According to him, “during the meeting, the third defendant attributed the delay to the shipment of the ‘bitter kola’, claiming that the ship had finally arrived in Hong Kong and appealed to them to wait for another two weeks for the return on their investments. And that after waiting for another month without receiving any money, he and some other investors, including Modestus, engaged a lawyer, who subsequently petitioned the EFCC.
“A few investors, including Modestus and I, came together to meet a lawyer. We gave the senior lawyer evidence of all the transfers made by us. The lawyer sent a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The EFCC invited us to come and adopt our petition. That is why we are here. Till date, I have not received my capital or return from the investment from the defendants,” he said.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Femi Peter Joseph, the witness informed the court that the total investment he made with Ayobola Anike Ventures and Alice Alade Ayeni is above N500 million.
Justice Akpan adjourned the matter till November 3, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.
