Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to produce an Abuja-based estate agent in court for the continuation of her trial over alleged land fraud, forgery and money laundering, following a dramatic courtroom clash that exposed a heated dispute between the anti-graft agency and the defence over the defendant's whereabouts. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order after the first defendant, Rebecca Omokamo, failed to appear for the resumed hearing of the criminal case, prompting her counsel and the prosecution to trade bitter accusations over whether she was under siege or had placed herself under self-imposed house arrest.
Omokamo's counsel, Christopher Oshomeghie, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told the court that his client had remained indoors for the past 23 days because armed EFCC operatives had allegedly laid siege to her Guzape residence, leaving her too afraid to step outside. He insisted that her absence from court was a direct consequence of the agency's actions, adding that the prolonged siege had taken a toll on her health. However, counsel for the EFCC, Benedict Ubi, strongly disagreed, arguing that the defendant had placed herself under self-imposed house arrest following the court's interim forfeiture order over the disputed property. He further alleged that Omokamo had frustrated efforts by EFCC officials to enforce the order and had repeatedly travelled outside the court's jurisdiction in breach of the conditions of her administrative bail.
The prosecutor insisted that Omokamo had the keys to the apartment and had locked herself inside, stressing that EFCC operatives neither confined nor detained her. After Oshomeghie confirmed that his client was in possession of the keys, Justice Abdulmalik directed the EFCC to produce Omokamo before the court on Thursday, July 23, 2026, and keep her in its custody pending the continuation of the trial. The judge's ruling effectively ordered the anti-graft agency to take the defendant into its custody and bring her to court, ending the standoff over her absence.
The other defendants in the matter are Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited. Only John, the Chief Executive Officer of Rychado Homes Limited, was present in court. Omokamo was arraigned in June 2025 in two separate criminal cases alongside her husband, Isaac Yusuf Ishaku, Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited. The EFCC alleged that between 2023 and 2024, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than N500 million from unsuspecting buyers by selling plots of land with forged documents, including fake powers of attorney, involving properties in Guzape and Katampe. The commission also accused them of laundering the proceeds through company accounts. Among the alleged victims is a 79-year-old widow, Colleen Yesufu, while another prosecution witness, Abu Gambo, had earlier testified that he lost N62 million after purchasing two plots in Katampe whose titles later disappeared from the records of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems.
Earlier, in a related civil suit filed by the EFCC, Justice Abdulmalik rebuked Oshomeghie after he sought clarification on the court's earlier order directing parties to maintain the status quo. The senior advocate had argued that despite the order, EFCC operatives had continued to occupy his client's Guzape property, effectively preventing her from leaving the premises for almost a month. Responding, the judge said, "When I make an order, I go to sleep," adding that counsel should not "think for the court." The EFCC informed the court that it had filed an application for the final forfeiture of the disputed property, while another party had also applied to be joined in the suit. Justice Abdulmalik held that the application for joinder would take precedence over the other pending applications and adjourned the civil matter until October 15, 2026, for hearing.
The dramatic courtroom exchange and the judge's subsequent order have intensified scrutiny of the high-profile land fraud case, which has already drawn attention due to the scale of the alleged fraud and the involvement of multiple defendants. The EFCC's investigation into the case has uncovered a network of forged documents and fake powers of attorney allegedly used to deceive buyers and launder proceeds through company accounts. As the trial prepares to resume on Thursday, the court's directive for the EFCC to produce Omokamo and keep her in custody underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the determination of the judiciary to ensure that the defendants face justice. The case also highlights the growing tension between the EFCC and defendants in high-stakes financial crimes, where claims of harassment and siege tactics are increasingly becoming a feature of courtroom battles.
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