Adeolu Adeboye, the son of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, reportedly received over ₦8 billion from the Kaduna State Government for a road construction project but left it unfinished after only 30% completion.
According to Sahara Reporters, Adeolu, along with his wife, secured the contract through Ronchess Global Resources Plc during former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s tenure. They are now under scrutiny for allegedly misappropriating the funds and failing to complete the project.
The Kaduna State Government and the House of Assembly have initiated an investigation into the alleged fraud.
In response, Adeolu has 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), the Kaduna State Government, and the House of Assembly from arresting or detaining him.
The EFCC, Inspector General of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Kaduna State Government, and Kaduna State House of Assembly are named as respondents.
On May 16, 2024, a team from the Kaduna State House of Assembly inspected the project site on the Wusasa to Danmagaji Nagoyi Road in Kaduna North Local Government Area.
They discovered that the site had been abandoned by Ronchess Global Resources Plc. Despite receiving ₦8,195,014,236.95 for the project, only 30% was completed before the work was halted.
The contract, initially valued at ₦8.74 billion, was later revised to ₦17.26 billion. The project was awarded on September 15, 2020, with a completion date of January 2, 2021.
To avoid the investigation, Adeolu Adeboye sought an interim order to stop the EFCC, the Kaduna State Government, and other authorities from taking further action against him.
Justice K.O. Ogundare of the Federal High Court granted the interim order, which restrains the respondents from pursuing any steps related to the project until the court hears and determines the motion for an interlocutory injunction.
The EFCC, in a counter-affidavit sworn by Mohammed Arabo on August 14, 2024, stated that evidence of fraud and criminal diversion of public funds had been found against Adeolu and 26 other contractors.
The EFCC’s investigation revealed that Ronchess Global Resources Plc had collected ₦8,185,014,328.95 while only 30% of the project was completed.
The EFCC’s legal team, led by Femi Falana (SAN), is challenging Adeolu’s use of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, arguing that the claim does not primarily seek to enforce fundamental rights but rather to address ancillary grievances.
Falana argued that the question to be “resolved is whether the applicant’s claim falls within the type that is enforceable as an infraction of fundamental right.”
The EFCC’s counsel argued further: “The position of the law is that for a claim to qualify as falling under fundamental rights, it must be clear that the principal relief sought is for the enforcement or for securing the enforcement of a fundamental right and not, from the nature of the claim, to redress a grievance that is ancillary to the principal relief which itself is not ipso facto a claim for the enforcement of fundamental right.”
Falana noted that “significantly, the claim of any breach is not like a magic wand which can be waved in the face of every claim and turn on the engine of enforcement of a right that may not be constitutional.”
The case has been adjourned to September 20, 2024, for further proceedings.