“They Sold What They Didn’t Own” — EFCC Charges Couple Over Alleged Fraudulent Land Deal
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday said it 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 N10m.
In a statement posted on its verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, the anti-graft agency said its Kaduna Zonal Directorate brought the couple before the court on Thursday for alleged conspiracy, advance fee fraud and obtaining money by false pretence.
The EFCC said the couple allegedly obtained N10m from one Jamilu Buhari on February 17, 2020, under the pretext of selling a parcel of farmland located at Birni Yero along the Kaduna Zaria Expressway.
According to the agency, 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.
The EFCC said both defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
It added that prosecution counsel, M. O. Arumemi, urged the court to fix a date for trial and asked that the couple be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service.
The defence counsel, Frank Akhareghemen, was said to have prayed the court to grant bail to the defendants.
After hearing both parties, Justice Isyaka ordered that the couple be remanded in custody pending the court’s decision.
Justice Isyaka adjourned the case till July 24, 2025, for ruling on the bail application.
The commission explained that the arraignment followed a petition filed by a law firm, Aysha Ahmed and Co, on behalf of one Hajiya Adama Maina.
The petitioner had alleged that the couple fraudulently claimed ownership of a property she inherited from her late husband and sold it to Jamilu Buhari.
The EFCC said further investigations revealed that the couple allegedly told the buyer they acquired the land from the petitioner’s stepson.
However, the said stepson reportedly had no dealings with them, which raised suspicion and led to legal action.
