The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned three individuals—Paul Olufemi Ogunlana, Olaniyi Rufai, and Dauda Bashir—alongside two corporate entities, Unified Luxury Homes Limited and Utopian Planning Ltd, before Justice Ngozika C. Nwabulu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The defendants face a two-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses, and stealing by conversion to the tune of N23,000,000. According to the anti-graft agency, the suspects allegedly paraded themselves as legitimate landowners and used a forged Power of Attorney to deceive a petitioner, Lucky U. Odigie, into purchasing a 2.2-hectare parcel of land located in the Gausa District, off Airport Road, Abuja.
During the court session, prosecuting counsel Mariya Ujudud Sheriff stated that the offenses contravene Section 96 of the Penal Code Law, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja), 1990, and Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act. The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Defense counsels Osaretin A. Uwangue, S.O. Yahaya, and Najib Adamu moved separate bail applications for their respective clients. Justice Nwabulu subsequently admitted each defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with one surety each in like sum. The court mandated that the sureties must be civil servants not below grade level 12.
The trial has been adjourned until September 22, 2026, for full commencement.
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