EFCC Arraigns Man For N5.5m Land Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, October 27, 2014 arraigned one Chief Igwe Chukwudi Titus before Justice D.V. Agishir of the Federal High Court, Enugu on a 6-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence contrary to section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

According to a press release by the EFCC, Titus allegedly collected the sum of N5.5m (five million, five hundred thousand naira) from one Sir Thaddeus Ugonna Ezeorah and six others for eleven (11) plots of land located beside PRODA, Emene Industrial layout, Enugu.

The accused person was also alleged to have fraudulently resold about 20,220 square metres of the said land, which belong to Emene Nike Community to S. C. Dubinson Nigeria Limited.

Count one of the charge reads:
“That you Chief Igwe Chukwudi Titus on or about the 22nd day of June, 2013 at Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) from Mr. Leonard Ogbonna Orsu, when you falsely represented to him that you have the mandate of the Emene Nike Community to sell to him two plots of land known as Plot IN/110 and IN/11, Emene Industrial Layout Enugu, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 1 (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Upon his plea, counsel to EFCC, Marshal Umukoro Onome asked the court for a date for trial to commence and urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody. However, counsel to the accused person, S. C. Chime through an oral application prayed the court to admit his client to bail saying he will be available for trial.

Justice Agishir after listening to the submissions of the counsel ordered the accused person to be kept in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter to November 6, 2014 for hearing of the bail application and commencement of trial.