Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a man, Udemba John Chibuzor, before a Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a two‑count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretense to the tune of N85,500,000 (Eighty‑five Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira). The defendant was brought before Justice F. O. Giwa‑Ogunbanjo on Monday, May 4, 2026, accused of fraudulently selling a property known as “Nitel Staff Quarters” situated at Zik Avenue, Uwani, Enugu, to a company called Decent Purch Services & Repairs, while knowing that the same property had already been sold to another individual, Mr. Ogbodo Augustine Chimezie. The alleged scheme, which unfolded between December 2024 and January 2025, saw the defendant collect a total of N85.5 million from the unsuspecting buyer before he switched off his phone and disappeared.
The first count of the charge reads: “That you, Udemba John Chibuzor, sometime on the 6th day of December 2024 in Enugu, Enugu State of Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit a felony to wit: with intent to defraud, obtained by false pretence the sum of N30,000,000.00 (Thirty million Naira only) from Decent Purch Services & Repairs when you presented yourself as the owner of a property known as ‘Nitel Staff Quarters’ situated at Zik Avenue, Uwani and sold same to them knowing fully well that the said property has been sold to one Mr. Ogbodo Augustine Chimezie, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
The second count carries a similar allegation for a subsequent payment of N55,500,000 (Fifty‑five million, Five hundred thousand Naira) made on January 9, 2025, under the same false representation. According to the prosecution, the defendant presented himself as the legitimate owner of the Nitel Staff Quarters property, a claim he knew was false because the land had already been legally transferred to Mr. Ogbodo Augustine Chimezie. Despite this prior sale, Udemba proceeded to negotiate with Decent Purch Services & Repairs, collected the substantial sum, and after banking the money, made himself unreachable. The petitioner later discovered that the same property had been used by the defendant to defraud other unsuspecting victims, suggesting a pattern of double‑selling and fraudulent land deals.
When the two charges were read to him in open court, Udemba John Chibuzor pleaded not guilty. In response, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE I Faruk Abdullah, prayed the court for a trial date and asked that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending the commencement of trial. The prosecution argued that the gravity of the alleged fraud and the defendant’s conduct of switching off his phone after collecting the money justified detention to prevent any risk of flight. The defence counsel did not immediately oppose the remand application but reserved arguments for the trial.
Justice Giwa‑Ogunbanjo, after listening to both sides, adjourned the matter to June 3, 2026, for the commencement of trial. The court ordered that the defendant be remanded at a correctional facility pending the trial date. The judge did not grant bail at this stage, as no formal bail application was filed. The defendant will therefore remain in custody for at least one month before his case is heard.
The case originated from a petition filed by Decent Purch Services & Repairs, a company that had been actively seeking to acquire property in the Uwani area of Enugu, a prime residential and commercial district. The company’s representatives were introduced to Udemba, who claimed ownership of the Nitel Staff Quarters. After verifying some documents that appeared legitimate, the company paid the first tranche of N30 million in December 2024. The second payment of N55.5 million followed in January 2025. It was only after the defendant went incommunicado and the company began its own checks that they discovered the property had already been sold to Mr. Ogbodo Augustine Chimezie, who had valid title documents. The company immediately reported the matter to the EFCC.
Investigations by the anti‑graft agency revealed that Udemba had used the proceeds of the fraudulent sale for personal expenses, though the exact trace of the funds has not yet been fully established. The EFCC also discovered that the defendant had allegedly attempted similar schemes with other properties, though those are still under investigation. The commission warned the public to conduct thorough due diligence before entering into land transactions, including verifying ownership at the state land registry and obtaining a certificate of occupancy or registered deed of assignment. In a statement, the EFCC reiterated its commitment to prosecuting land fraud, which has become a growing concern in Enugu and other parts of the South‑East, where rapid urbanisation and rising property prices have created fertile ground for scammers.
Legal analysts have noted that the case highlights the vulnerability of corporate entities that often rush to acquire properties without exhaustive title searches. The prosecution will need to prove that Udemba knowingly misrepresented his ownership and that the complainant relied on that misrepresentation to its detriment. The defence may argue that the transaction was a civil breach of contract rather than a criminal fraud, a common defence in land disputes. However, the EFCC is likely to rely on evidence of the prior sale to Mr. Ogbodo and the defendant’s deliberate disappearance after receiving payment as proof of fraudulent intent. If convicted on either count, Udemba faces a potential prison sentence under the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which provides for up to 20 years imprisonment for each count.
The court has fixed June 3, 2026, for trial. The EFCC is expected to parade witnesses, including representatives of Decent Purch Services & Repairs, Mr. Ogbodo Augustine Chimezie, officials of the Enugu State Land Registry, and forensic analysts who traced the bank transactions. Until then, Udemba John Chibuzor will remain behind bars, his fate hanging on the evidence to be presented. The case serves as a stark warning to anyone tempted to sell the same land twice: the long arm of the anti‑graft agency is watching.
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