The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has
arraigned Rebecca Godwin-Isaac Omokamo, a real estate developer also known as
Bilikisu Ishaku-Aliyu, over alleged N500 million land fraud and money
laundering.
Omokamo was arraigned before Joyce Abdulmalik, judge of a
federal high court in Abuja, on two separate charges following a petition filed
by Colleen Yesufu, a 79-year-old widow, whose lands were among those allegedly
fraudulently acquired.
In the first case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/77/2025, the EFCC
arraigned Omokamo alongside her husband, Isaac Yusuf-Ishaku, and their company,
Homadil Realty Limited, on a five-count charge.
In the second matter with charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/76/2025,
she was docked on a 17-count charge alongside Idakwogi John and Rychardo Homes
Ltd.
The EFCC alleged that between 2023 and 2024, the defendants
received over N500 million from multiple victims under false pretences and
laundered the money through various company accounts.
The commission said they used forged documents, including a
falsified power of attorney, to claim ownership of Plot 4022, Guzape district,
Abuja.
According to the anti-graft agency, Omokamo used the forged
documents to obtain a building permit from the department of development
control of the federal capital territory administration (FCTA) and sold the
property to a buyer for N70 million.
The defendants were further accused of falsely claiming
ownership of plots 1861, 1862, and 1863 in cadastral zone B07, Katampe
district, Abuja, with which they allegedly defrauded several individuals
purchasing the property.
The defendants allegedly conspired to fraudulently acquire
and sell the lands, including those belonging to Colleen Yesufu.
Their actions, the EFCC said, amounted to offences contrary
to section 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and
Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges read to
them.
After hearing their applications through defence counsel
Christopher Oshomegie and M.A. Ebutu, the judge admitted each defendant to bail
in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge ordered that the sureties must be civil servants
not below grade level 16, present evidence of their last three months’
salaries, possess landed property equivalent to the bail sum, and depose to an
affidavit of means.
The judge also directed the defendants to deposit their
international passports and barred them from travelling outside the country
without approval.
They are to be remanded in prison custody pending the
perfection of their bail conditions.
The matters were adjourned to July 21 and 22 for trial. The
EFCC informed the court that it intends to call 13 witnesses.
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com