RismadarVoice Reporters, May 4, 2026
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Economic and Financial Crimes Commission operative before the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, over an alleged N85.5 million land fraud.
The defendant, Udemba John Chibuzor, was brought before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court of Nigeria on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.
According to the charge, Chibuzor allegedly defrauded Decent Purch Services & Repairs of a total sum of N85,500,000 by falsely presenting himself as the owner of a property known as the “Nitel Staff Quarters” located at Zik Avenue, Uwani, Enugu.
In count one, the EFCC alleged that on December 6, 2024, the defendant obtained N30 million from the company under the claim that he owned the said property, despite knowing it had already been sold to one Mr Ogbodo Augustine Chimezie.
Count two of the charge stated that on January 9, 2025, he allegedly received an additional N55.5 million from the same company using the same false representation.
The offences, the EFCC said, contravene Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Chibuzor, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him in court.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE I) Faruk Abdullah, urged the court to fix a trial date and order the remand of the defendant in a correctional facility pending the commencement of proceedings.
Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo subsequently adjourned the matter to June 3, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody.
Investigations by the EFCC revealed that the defendant allegedly disappeared and switched off his phone after receiving the funds, sparking further inquiries that uncovered alleged multiple fraud involving the same property.
