Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a former Managing Director of Buffah S.K. & Co Limited, Musa Saidu Koki, also known as Alhaji Baffa, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Jabi, Abuja, over an alleged N108,068,500 land fraud. Koki was brought before Justice F. E. Messiri on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, on a five-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and obtaining money under false pretence. The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained the sum through transactions involving a disputed property located at Plot 526, Cadastral Zone C04, Guzape, Abuja.
According to the charge sheet, the defendant allegedly committed the offences in two separate but related transactions. Count one of the charges reads that on or about August 15, 2024, Koki obtained the sum of N7 million from one Justice Enenche as an agency fee, having entered into a joint venture partnership with him under the false pretence that he was the beneficial owner of the land situated at Plot 526 Cadastral Zone CO4, Guzape, Abuja. The EFCC told the court that the representation was false and constituted an offence under Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
In count four, the prosecution alleged that sometime between December 2024 and early 2025, Koki induced Voice Real Estate Limited into a joint venture partnership agreement to develop the same purported land, causing the company to lose the sum of N97,568,500. The commission further alleged that the defendant falsely represented that the property was free from any encumbrances, despite allegedly knowing that the beneficial owner of the land was former Abia State Governor and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu. The charge stated that Koki's actions were contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
When the charges were read to him in court, Koki pleaded not guilty to all five counts. Following his plea, prosecution counsel F. O. Dibang asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in Kuje Correctional Centre pending the determination of the case. However, defence counsel T. Tonye urged the court to allow his client to continue enjoying the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC. Despite opposition from the prosecution, Justice Messiri ordered that the defendant should remain on the existing administrative bail. The judge, however, directed Koki to submit copies of his National Identification Number slip and Bank Verification Number to the court registrar as part of the bail conditions. The matter was adjourned until July 29, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the involvement of a high-profile senator's property. According to EFCC investigators, Koki allegedly used the land belonging to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who represents Abia North in the National Assembly, to defraud unsuspecting investors. The anti-graft agency maintained that the defendant never had any legal or beneficial interest in the property and that his claims of ownership were entirely false. The transactions, which spanned several months in 2024 and 2025, involved multiple victims who were led to believe they were entering into legitimate joint venture agreements for residential development in the prime Guzape district of Abuja.
The arraignment is part of the EFCC's ongoing crackdown on real estate fraud in the Federal Capital Territory, where land scams have become increasingly prevalent. The commission has intensified its scrutiny of land transactions, particularly in high-value areas such as Guzape, Maitama, and Asokoro, where fraudulent developers often exploit unsuspecting buyers with promises of prime plots at competitive prices. The case against Koki highlights the sophisticated methods employed by fraudsters, who often use fake documents, false representations of ownership, and elaborate joint venture agreements to lure victims into parting with substantial sums of money.
As the case progresses to trial on July 29, the EFCC is expected to present witnesses and documentary evidence to establish the defendant's alleged fraudulent activities. The prosecution will likely seek to prove that Koki knowingly misrepresented his ownership of the Guzape property and that he acted with intent to defraud both Justice Enenche and Voice Real Estate Limited. Should the court find him guilty, Koki faces significant penalties under the Advance Fee Fraud Act, which provides for substantial prison terms and fines for convicted offenders.
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