Justice Ibrahim Ahmad Kala of a Federal High Court, Lagos, has adjourned the trial of a Nigeria businessman, Paul Ezefulukwe, who is charged before the court on alleged conspiracy, obtaining the sum N50 million by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques, to April 28, 2026.
The defendant, Paul Ezefulukwe, who is also the President of the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), an umbrella body of blockchain stakeholders, was charged before the court alongside his company, Pietech Limited, by the operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos, in an amended charge marked FHC/L/1067c/2025.
He was arraigned before the court on the alleged offences sometime in December 2025.
The businessman’s alleged illegal acts, according to the prosecutor, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 8 and 1(1)(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. And section 1(1)(a) & (b) of the Dishonored Cheque (Offences) Act, Cap. D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Justice Kala had fixed April 28, for the defendant’s trial, following a letter written to the court by the prosecutor, Barrister Samuel Ogala, who informed the court that he is on an official assignment outside the court’s jurisdiction.
Charges against the businessman read: “That you Paul Ezefulukwe ‘M’ and Pietech Ltd. sometimes in the month of February, 2023 at Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretense and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
“That you Paul Ezefulukwe ‘m’ and Pietech Limited sometimes in the month of February 2023 at Lagos State w thin tbe jurisdiction on of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud fraudulently obtained the sum of N50 Million from Mr. Lucky U., under the pretense of using the send sum for an Investment, the representation you knew to be false and thereby commited an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(1}{3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud related Offences Act, 2006.
“That you Paul Ezefulukwe ‘M’ and pietech Limited, sometimes in the month of February, 2023 at Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did obtain credit for yourselves by means of United Bank for Africa Plc. with Cheque Numbers.: 0000011, 033150396, 1025392646 and 021502829 drawn in favour of one Mr. Lucky U. and when presented was dishonored on account of insufficient fund and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(1)(a) & (b) of the Dishonored Cheque (Offences) Act, Cap. D11, LFN 2004.”
