By Miriam Humbe
The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has secured the conviction and sentence of one Abdullahi Haladu, before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, sitting in Kaduna Metropolis for land fraud.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity disclosed this in a statement signed on Thursday.
He was prosecuted on an amended three-count charge, bordering on conspiracy and cheating to the tune of N1,550,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira, only).
Count one of the charge reads: “That you Abdullahi Haladu (m) and Kabiru Liman (m) (now convict), on or about April, 2021 in Kaduna within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, conspired among yourselves to do an illegal act, to wit: cheating one Malam Sani Isyak of the sum of N1,550,000.00 (One Million Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira, only), when you falsely represented yourself as the owner of a plot of land measuring 105×45, at Mangoron, Agwai Sabon Gari Malalin, and had the authority to sale same, which you knew to be false, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58 (1) (a) of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under Section 307 of the same law.”
He pleaded “guilty” when to the charges, following which the prosecution counsel, M.E Eimonye asked the court to convict and sentence him accordingly.
Justice Khobo, thereafter, sentenced him to five years imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) fine. In addition to his jail term, he is to make financial restitution to his victim.
Haladu was arrested and prosecuted following a petition from one Muhammed Sani Isyak to the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC, alleging that the convict and his accomplice on April 4, 2021 sold a piece of land, situated at Mangoron Agwai, Sabon Gari Malalin Gabas to him at the cost of N1,550,000.00 (One Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and thereafter signed a sales agreement with him.
The petitioner, however, discovered after the payment and agreement that the transaction was fraudulent and petitioned the EFCC.
