Court adjourns trial of 4 alleged Abuja land grabbers to Oct. 26

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of four individuals accused of land grabbing and fraud to October 26. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented documentary evidence to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, aiming to establish the defendants' involvement in an alleged N500 million Abuja land fraud.

The defendants on trial are real estate developer Mrs. Godwin-Isaac Rebecca Omokamo, her husband Isaac Yusuf Ishaku, Idakwogi Richard John, and two companies, Homadil Realty Limited and Rychardo Homes Ltd. The EFCC arraigned them on charges including conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, and money laundering, alleging they collected over N500 million from victims between 2023 and 2024.

Prosecutors claim the defendants used forged documents, including a fake power of attorney, to assert ownership of Plot 4022 in Guzape District, Abuja. The EFCC further alleged that the first defendant used forged documents to obtain a building permit from the FCT Department of Development Control and subsequently sold the land for N70 million. The agency also stated the defendants fraudulently misrepresented ownership of Plots 1861, 1862, and 1863 in Katampe District, inducing individuals to part with money based on false pretenses.

All defendants have pleaded not guilty. The court had previously ordered the arrest of Mrs. Omokamo for failing to appear at a prior hearing. At the resumed session, she was produced in court, but the judge denied a request to remand her in EFCC custody. Two prosecution witnesses testified that the defendants issued fraudulent title documents to buyers of the disputed lands.