A land agent, Godfrey Oscar Opara, has been arraigned before Justice P.I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for N25.4 million land fraud.
According to a Saturday statement, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said its Port Harcourt Zonal Command arraigned the suspect on Wednesday, January 24.
The EFCC said the defendant was arraigned on four-count charges bordering on obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N25.4 million, “an offence that contravenes Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Count one of the charges read: “That you Godfrey Oscar Opara between 16th October, 2020 and February 1st, 2022 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Nine Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,200,000.00) from Sobomabo Amachree under the pretence of transferring and holding yourself out as the rightful owner of one and half plots within a parcel of land situate in Akwu Otula, Ngbakiri, Okemeni, Rumuolumeni, Obi/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, property of Mr. Anthony Omiete, the pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offence Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you Godfrey Oscar Opara between sometimes in 2022, at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Sixteen Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N16,200,000.00) from Mr. Ibim Simeon Dakubo under the pretence of transferring and holding yourself out as the rightful owner of two plots within a parcel of land situate in Akwu Otula, Ngbakiri, Okemeni, Rumuolumeni, Obi/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, property of Mr. Anthony Omiete, the pretence, you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
After the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded “not guilty”.
Prosecution counsel, M. Abubakar, in view of the plea by the defendant, prayed the court to schedule a new date for commencement of trial.
However, defence counsel, Okey Ehogwo told the court of an application of his client, which was opposed by the prosecution counsel.
Justice Ajoku granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million and two sureties in like sum.
The court held that the sureties must be public servants with the River State Government or with the Federal Government of Nigeria and should not be less than grade level 12.
The court said that sureties must deposit two recent passport photographs with the court registry and be resident in Port Harcourt, with a landed property which must have a C of O (Certificate of Occupancy).
Additionally, sureties were directed to provide a letter of evidence from their offices, either from the Federal or State Government.
Justice Ajoku remanded the defendant in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service pending fulfillment of his bail conditions and adjourned the matter till May 6, 2024, for commencement of trial.
The EFCC said Opara was arrested for selling a landed property entrusted to him for sale by someone that employed him as a land agent but neither remitted the money to the owner of the land nor returned his land to him.