Adeolu Adeboye, the son of the esteemed General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, is embroiled in serious fraud allegations involving a multi-billion naira road project in Kaduna State.
The contract, valued at N17.26 billion, was awarded to Ronchess Global Resources Plc, a company associated with Adeolu, during the tenure of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai.
The project, intended to construct an 8km road in Zaria, initially had a contract sum of N8.74 billion. Despite the Kaduna State Government disbursing over N8 billion, the project remains only 30% complete, raising suspicions of fraud and the diversion of public funds.
In response to these concerns, the Kaduna State Government, in conjunction with the State House of Assembly, launched an official probe into the matter.
Amidst these developments, Adeolu Adeboye filed a lawsuit (FHC/L/CS/1206/24) at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking an injunction to prevent the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Kaduna State Government, and the State House of Assembly from arresting or detaining him concerning the project.
Justice K.O. Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted an interim order restraining the respondents from taking any further action against Adeolu pending the hearing of the motion on notice for an interlocutory injunction.
The court also directed Adeolu to file an undertaking as to damages within seven days and adjourned the case to September 20, 2024.
However, the EFCC has filed a counter-affidavit, with one of its officers, Mohammed Arabo, asserting that their investigation has uncovered evidence of fraud and criminal diversion of funds involving Adeolu and other contractors.
The EFCC’s legal team, led by renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), argued that Adeolu’s case does not qualify as a fundamental rights issue but is an attempt to evade legitimate investigations.
Falana emphasized that the legal system should not be used to shield individuals from accountability, noting that the high court lacks jurisdiction to hear Adeolu’s case as it primarily concerns allegations of fraud, not breaches of fundamental rights.
The court is set to hear the motion on notice on September 20, 2024, while the EFCC and other respondents continue their investigation into the abandoned project.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
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