Couple Arraigned Over Alleged N10m Land Fraud in Kaduna

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday announced that it had arraigned a couple, Aisha Musa and Farouk Anas, before Justice A. Isyaka of the Kaduna State High Court over an alleged land fraud involving the sum of N10 million.

In a statement shared via its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, the EFCC said its Kaduna Zonal Directorate brought the duo before the court on Thursday to face charges of conspiracy, advance fee fraud, and obtaining money by false pretence.

According to the commission, the couple allegedly collected N10 million from one Jamilu Buhari on February 17, 2020, under the pretext of selling him a piece of farmland located at Birni Yero along the Kaduna-Zaria Expressway.

The EFCC said, “The charge read in court stated that the couple’s actions contravened Section 1 (1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act of 2006 and are punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same law.”

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecuting counsel, M.O. Arumemi, asked the court to set a date for trial and requested that the couple be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service.

On the other hand, defence counsel Frank Akhareghemen urged the court to grant bail to his clients.

After hearing from both parties, Justice Isyaka ordered that the couple be remanded and adjourned the matter until July 24, 2025, for ruling on the bail application.

The EFCC explained that the case originated from a petition submitted by the law firm of Aysha Ahmed and Co. on behalf of Hajiya Adama Maina.

The petitioner alleged that the accused persons fraudulently claimed ownership of a property she inherited from her late husband and went on to sell it to Jamilu Buhari.

Further investigations, according to the EFCC, revealed that the couple told the buyer they acquired the land from the petitioner’s stepson. However, it was discovered that the stepson had no connection or transaction with them, prompting legal action.