Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, arraigned three alleged land grabbers and two firms before Justice Ngozika C. Nwabulu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over accusations of defrauding a petitioner of N23 million in a fraudulent land transaction. The defendants, Paul Olufemi Ogunlana, Olaniyi Rufai, Dauda Bashir, Unified Luxury Homes Limited, and Utopian Planning Ltd, are accused of presenting themselves as the rightful owners of a parcel of land measuring approximately 2.2 hectares located at Gausa District, off Airport Road, Abuja, and obtaining the sum from one Lucky U. Odigie under false pretences. According to the petitioner, the defendants and their companies approached him with a Power of Attorney to sell the land, which later turned out to be entirely fabricated, leaving Odigie with neither the land nor his money.
The defendants were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion to the tune of N23 million belonging to Odigie. Count one of the charges reads that the defendants, including one Tayo Yusuf Adeyinka, who is currently at large, did agree amongst themselves sometime in 2023 to commit an illegal act by obtaining the sum of N23 million from Odigie under the false pretence that they had the authority to sell the land, a representation they knew to be false. This offence is contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Law, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja), 1990, and punishable under Section 97 of the same law. Count two charges the defendants with obtaining the sum of N23 million from Odigie as payment for the purchase of the land by falsely representing that the land belonged to them and was available for sale, contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2026.
When the charges were read to them on Tuesday, all three defendants pleaded not guilty. The prosecution counsel, Mariya Ujudud Sheriff, promptly asked the court for the commencement of the trial, while the defence counsel filed applications for bail on behalf of their respective clients. Osaretin A. Uwangue represented the 1st and 4th defendants, S. O. Yahaya represented the 2nd defendant, and Najib Adamu represented the 3rd and 5th defendants. Justice Nwabulu, after listening to submissions from all defence counsel, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with one surety each in like sum. The judge also ruled that the sureties must be civil servants not below Grade Level 12. The matter has been adjourned to Tuesday, September 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial, giving the prosecution time to prepare its case and potentially locate the fourth defendant, Tayo Yusuf Adeyinka, who remains at large.
The case highlights the growing menace of land grabbing and fraudulent land transactions in the Federal Capital Territory, where the demand for land has created fertile ground for criminal networks to exploit unsuspecting buyers. Land fraud has become increasingly sophisticated in Abuja, with syndicates often using forged documents, fake Powers of Attorney, and fabricated land ownership claims to defraud victims of millions of naira. The involvement of registered companies in the alleged scheme raises serious concerns about the adequacy of corporate governance regulations and the due diligence processes that should prevent such entities from being used as vehicles for fraud. The EFCC's decision to prosecute both the individuals and the companies involved signals a determination by the anti-graft agency to pursue all actors in fraudulent land transactions, including corporate entities that facilitate or benefit from such crimes.
The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2026, under which the defendants were charged in count two, reflects Nigeria's updated legislative framework for tackling financial crimes, imposing stricter penalties on offenders. The Act criminalises obtaining property or money by false pretence and provides for the prosecution of individuals and corporate bodies involved in such schemes. The EFCC's action in this case is consistent with its mandate to investigate and prosecute economic and financial crimes, including land fraud, which has become a major concern for residents and investors in the FCT. The commission has repeatedly warned the public to exercise due diligence when engaging in land transactions, advising buyers to verify land titles through the relevant authorities before parting with their money.
As the case progresses toward trial, the court's decision to grant bail with stringent conditions reflects a balanced approach between the presumption of innocence and the need to ensure that the defendants make themselves available for trial. The requirement that sureties be civil servants of Grade Level 12 and above is designed to ensure that individuals of proven integrity and financial standing take responsibility for the defendants' appearance in court. The trial, scheduled to commence on September 22, 2026, will be closely watched by property buyers and legal practitioners alike, as it could set important precedents for how land fraud cases are prosecuted in the FCT. The outcome will also determine whether Odigie, the petitioner, will recover his N23 million and whether the defendants will face the full weight of the law for what the EFCC describes as a carefully orchestrated scheme to defraud an unsuspecting buyer.
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