EFCC Charges Paulinus Ani with N8.1 Million Land Fraud in Enugu

Share post to:

Enugu, Nigeria – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has formally charged Paulinus Ani with fraud, alleging that he defrauded Severus Ifeanyi Odoziobodo of N8,130,000. The case was presented before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar at the Federal High Court in Enugu.

The charge states that between October 2015 and June 2018, Ani misled Odoziobodo into believing he was selling seven plots of land, which he had no authority to sell. Ani reportedly claimed to be an employee of the Ministry of Land and Urban Development, providing false allocation documents to convince Odoziobodo of the legitimacy of the sale.

After Odoziobodo made the payment, he later discovered that the plots had already been sold to other buyers who possessed valid Certificates of Occupancy. Frustrated by his unsuccessful attempts to retrieve his funds, Odoziobodo submitted a petition to the EFCC on January 1, 2021, prompting the investigation.

During the court proceedings, Ani pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following his plea, EFCC counsel Nasir Umar requested a trial date and argued for Ani’s remand in custody. The defense attorney, O. S. Imaji, sought bail on the grounds that Ani had a reliable surety. However, the prosecution opposed the bail request, highlighting the increasing incidents of land fraud in Enugu and emphasizing the need for strict measures against such offenses.

Justice Umar ultimately granted bail under specific conditions, which included a bond of N10 million and two sureties residing in Enugu State. Until these conditions are met, Ani will remain in custody at the Enugu Correctional Facility. The next court date is set for January 23, 2025, to further address the case.

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments