EFCC Arraigns 3 Land Grabbers, 2 Firms Over ₦23m Abuja Estate Scam
Three suspected land grabbers arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arraigned along with their real estate firms before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The defendants are facing a two-count charge involving an alleged ₦23 million land fraud.
The Fraud Syndicate and False Claims
Listed in the charge are, Paul Olufemi Ogunlana, Olaniyi Rufai, and Dauda Bashir. The firms are Unified Luxury Homes Limited and Utopian Planning Limited.
According to the anti-graft agency, the suspects allegedly conspired and collected ₦23 million from a victim, Lucky Odigie. The transaction was for the purchase of a 2.2-hectare plot of land located in the Gausa District, off Airport Road, Abuja.
Investigations revealed that the defendants falsely claimed ownership of the property to facilitate the scam.
Court Charges and Bail Conditions
The suspects were docked on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences. When the two-count charge was read, all the defendants pleaded “not guilty.”
Presiding Judge Justice Ngozika Nwabulu, granted bail to each defendant. However, they must remain in prison remand until they perfect their bail conditions.
