A prosecution witness, Promise Egwim, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that Oluchi Duruibe, the National Democratic Congress candidate for the Okigwe South Federal Constituency seat in Imo State, defrauded him of N238,600,000 in a property deal.

Mr Egwim made the allegation on Thursday while giving evidence before Justice Y. Halilu at the Abuja Division of the court in Ms Duruibe’s ongoing trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Ms Duruibe on a four-count charge of investment fraud and obtaining money under false pretences involving N238.6 million.

NDC Reps candidate Oluchi Duruibe
NDC Reps candidate Oluchi Duruibe

 

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The commission said she was arraigned on 30 April 2026 following a petition alleging that she had held herself out as a real estate investment facilitator who could assist the petitioner in sourcing investors for his company, Profilled World Homes.

Cross-examined by defence counsel O. R. Odisa, Mr Egwim said the money represented part-payment of the 10 per cent commission he had agreed to pay the defendant on a proposed N10 billion investment in his real estate firm.

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“The total sum of N238, 600, 000 that I gave her was part of the 10 per cent of N10 billion investment she promised to bring for my company. She even said that there was already a N3 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.

“I did not want to approve the cheque but she pressured me to speak with my account officer to approve the cheque. She even promised that she will supply bags of cement worth the amount if she is unable to deliver which she did not. The money belongs to my company Profilled World Homes,” the witness stated.

The EFCC stated that the petitioner handed Ms Duruibe two Zenith Bank cheques, one for N97 million and another for N41 million, in addition to cash payments and bank transfers that came to N238.6 million in total.

According to the commission, the defendant did not provide the N10 billion investment she had promised and has not refunded the money paid to her.

Justice Halilu adjourned the case until 25 November 2026 for the trial to continue.

Ms Duruibe became the House of Representatives candidate for Okigwe South Federal Constituency in June.