Brothers Arraigned in Nigeria for Allegedly Selling Same Land Multiple Times

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought two brothers, Cypril Nwalaezi and Smart Chinedu Nwalaezi, before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on charges of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretenses. The brothers are accused of defrauding a buyer, Franklin Nwachukwu, of N3.2 million through the fraudulent sale of the same land parcels to multiple individuals.

According to the EFCC's statement, the defendants allegedly deceived Mr. Nwachukwu into believing they held valid titles to several plots of land in Igbo-Etche, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. Specifically, Cypril is accused of obtaining N2.75 million on October 17, 2022, for two parcels of land, while Smart allegedly received N450,000 on November 3, 2022, for another parcel from the same buyer, under similar false claims of ownership.

The charges stem from a petition filed by Mr. Nwachukwu in June 2024, after he discovered that the properties he purchased in 2022 had been resold to other buyers. EFCC investigations reportedly confirmed that the brothers conspired to resell the properties after receiving payment from the complainant.

Justice S. D. Pam admitted Cypril to bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety, who must own landed property and reside in Port Harcourt. Smart was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety. Both defendants were ordered to be remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions. The trial is scheduled to commence on September 17.