Land Speculator In N34m Fraud

The police at Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, have arraigned three notorious land speculators operating around Satelitte Town, Ojo, Lagos, before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, on a six-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence.

The accused, Biliaminu Lawal, 60, Mukaila Giwa, 59, and Mojeed Tajudeen, 36, according to the police, were arrested following a complaint lodged by two victims, Chief Eugene Okoro and Martins Ohagba, that they were defrauded of N34.6m by the accused on the pretence of selling 60 plots of land to them, but failed to provide the land and refused to refund the money.

The land in dispute is situated at Ibasa Water Front Village, Satellite Town, Ojo, Lagos.

The police alleged that while the three accused jointly collected N32.1m from the victims, Biliaminu Lawal obtained N1m each from Eugene Okoro and Martins Ohagba under the pretence of assisting them to persuade the families to release the 60 and 30 non-existing plots of land to them.

Mojeed Tajudeen, the police alleged further, fraudulently obtained N400,000 from Martins Ohagba at Oceanic Bank, FESTAC Town, Lagos under the pretence of procuring a survey plan for the land at Ibasa Water Front, Satellite Town, Ojo, Lagos.

The transactions occured between 2 September, 2003 and 10 September, 2010.

The offences, according to the prosecutor, Nosa Izebizua, are punishable under Sections 516 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap. C.17, Vol. 11, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding magistrate granted them bail in the sum of N2 million each with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the matter.

—Paul Iyoghojie