By Abiola Olawale
Human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has denied the allegations that he forged the signature of one Christopher Orutete who claimed to be the Secretary of Ronchess Global Resources Plc, a company linked with Adeolu Adeboye, son of Redeemed Christian Church of God’s General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye.
Adegboruwa in a letter addressed to the
Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, clarified that no single document was forged and no signature was presented in any court process filed by his law firm.
It would be recalled that Orutete, in the petition addressed to the EFCC Chairman, accused Ronchess Global Resources Plc, where Adeolu is a director of allegedly using his name to obtain a court order.
He also accused the company and its legal counsel, Adegboruwa, of using his name to file a court lawsuit, which he claims he is unaware of.
However, Adegboruwa stated that the contents of the said petition are not true and correct.
The legal luminary asserted that the petition authored by Oruete was written primarily to malign his name and anyone associated with Ronchess.
According to him, Oruete is still aggrieved that he was removed as Secretary of Ronchess by the Management of Ronchess.
The petition reads in part: “Recalling the facts of the case, the letter stated that the Management of Ronchess Global Resources briefed the law firm to commence an action against the Kaduna State Government, Kaduna State House of Assembly and 2 (two) others to recover the sum of N1, 391, 782, 486. 45 owed Ronchess as a result of failure on the part of the Kaduna State Government to pay for the road construction works already carried out in Kaduna State. Based on Ronchess’ instruction, Suit No.: KDH/KAD/594/2024 was filed at the High Court of Kaduna State claiming several reliefs. Upon the service of the processes filed in the said Suit No.: KDH/KAD/594/2024 on the Kaduna State Government, the KADSG, instead of filing a Defence in Court, decided to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other law enforcement agencies on the same subject matter of the pending suit.
“The above approach led to the invitation of all the Management Staff of Ronchess by the EFCC, even when it is manifestly clear that the entire facts culminating in the EFCC’s invitation arose from a purely civil transaction between Ronchess and the Kaduna State Government.
“Consequent to the invitation of the Management of Ronchess by the EFCC and perceiving that the invitation by EFCC may overreach the suit pending in court and lead to the infringement of the fundamental rights of the Management Staff of Ronchess, our Law Firm was formally briefed by Ronchess to take legal steps to protect and defend its interests and that of Management Staff.
“Based on the above facts and being a case bordering on likely breach of fundamental rights, separate and distinct actions were filed on behalf of each Management Staff of Ronchess based on the list of names available at our disposal, which includes one “Chris Oriete” and not “Christopher Egba Oruete.” An ex-parte application for interim orders meant to preserve the rule of law and protect the fundamental rights of Ronchess Management was filed contemporaneously alongside the fundamental rights action.
“As permitted under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, a member of the Management Staff of Ronchess was deposed to the various affidavits in support of the cases that were filed. Thus, there was no forgery of any signature and no signature of any other member of Management Staff was required for the filing of the suit. No single document was signed in court on behalf of Christopher Egba Oruete in any manner whatsoever. We are thus at a loss on the fabricated issue of forgery of his signature by Mr Christopher Egba Oruete, either as alleged or at all.
“The letter stated further that Mr. Adegboruwa SAN acted for Ronchess based on section 8 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 201,5 which provides that: “A suspect shall not be arrested merely on a civil wrong or breach of contract.” The case between Ronchess and the Kaduna State Government is based on a contract duly executed, it went through tenders and it was awarded following due process of law, and certificates of completion of projects were duly signed and delivered to the company. Above all, the matter was already pending before the Kaduna State High Court before the invitation by the EFCC. On the 12th of July, 2024, the ex parte applications filed on behalf of the Ronchess’ Management Staff were heard and granted in the interim. This led to unabated bitterness and unrelenting media persecution of Ronchess Staff and anyone connected to them. The order was aimed at ensuring that the existing suit between Ronchess and KADSG was not prejudiced or compromised.”
It would be recalled that the saga began after Adeolu was accused of receiving over N8 billion from the Kaduna State Government for a contract but allegedly abandoned the project after 30% completion.
The pastor’s son was alleged to have secured the contract through Ronchess Global Resources Plc during former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration.
Subsequently, Adeolu reportedly filed a suit marked FHC/L/CS/1208/2024, seeking an injunction restraining the EFCC, Kaduna State Government, and the House of Assembly from arresting or detaining Adeolu over an alleged abandoned N8 billion project.
