EFCC arraigns siblings for alleged land fraud

Two brothers, Cypril and Smart Nwalaezi, are facing charges for allegedly perpetrating land fraud, defrauding a Mr. Franklin Nwachukwu of N3,200,000. The Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the case before Justice S. D. Pam of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.

The amended five-count charge includes conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretenses. Specifically, Cypril Nwalaezi is accused of selling land measuring 1150.805 and 1295.771 square meters for N2,750,000 by falsely claiming valid title. Smart Nwalaezi allegedly sold a portion of the same land, measuring 467.912 square meters, for N450,000 under similar pretenses.

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That you, Cypril Nwalaezi on or about the 17th October, 2022 at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud and by false pretence that you had valid and subsisting title to a parcel of land, situated at Umuasukpo Farm Road, in Igbo-Etche in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, measuring 1150.805 and 1295.771 square metres. You also induced Mr Franklin Nwachukwu to purchase the same and obtained the sum of N2,750,000.00) from Mr Franklin Nwachukwu and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) & (c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecution requested a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in custody. However, the defense counsels presented bail applications for each brother. Justice Pam granted Cypril Nwalaezi bail in the sum of N500,000 with a surety who must own property and reside in Port Harcourt. Smart Nwalaezi was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety, and he is to be remanded in the correctional center pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions.

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That you, Smart Chinedu Nwalaezi on or about the third day of November, 2022 at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud and by false pretense that you had valid and subsisting title to a parcel of land, situated at Umuasukpo Farm Road, lgbo-Etche in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, measuring an area of 467.912 sq/m, induced Mr. Franklin Nwachukwu to purchase the same and obtained the sum of N450,000 from Mr Franklin Nwachukwu and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) & (c )of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offenses Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.