EFCC Arraigns Realtors Over Alleged N577m Land Fraud In Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two realtors before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over alleged N577m land fraud.
The realtors, Dr. Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac, the Chief Executive Officer of Homadil Realty Ltd, and Idakwogi Richard John, CEO of Rychado Homes Limited, were arraigned alongside their companies, on 17-count charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, forgery, brought against them by the Federal Government.
The duo was accused of conspiring amongst themselves to fraudulently obtain false pretenses, fake documents of over Plot 1861, 1862, and 1863 Cadastral Zone B07, Katampe District, Abuja.
The anti-graft agency accused them of using these documents to induce several unsuspecting individuals to pay money to their companies, for the acquisition of the said properties.
According to the EFCC, the offense is contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/76/2025, Godwin-Isaac Rebecca Омокамо…(aka Bilkisu Ishaku Aliyu), Hotmail Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited were listed as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
In the suit, count two reads, “That you, GODWIN ISAAC REBEССА ОМОКАМО (a.k.a. BILIKISU ISHAQU ALIYU) and HOMADIL REALTY LIMITED, sometime in August 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the total sum of N62,000,000.00 (Sixty Two Millian Naira) from Abu Abubakar Gombo by farsely representing that you had genuine title and ownership over Plat 1862 Cadastral Zone 807. Katampe District, Abuja, and fraudulently induced him to make payment for the acquisition of a portion of the said property, knowing that the representations were false, thereby committing an affense contrary to Section 11 ana punishable under Section 1/3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. 2006.”
“That you, GODWIN- ISAAC REBECCA OMOKAMO (a.k.a. BILIKISU ISHAQU ALIYU) and HOMADIL REALTY LIMITED, sometime in January 2024, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the total sum of N75,000,000.00 (Seventy Five Milllon Naira) from Usman Abba Jalo by falsely representing that you had genuine title and ownership over Plot 1861 and 1862 Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District. Abuja, and fraudulently induced him to make payment for the acquisition of portions of the said properties, knowing that the representations were false, thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 11 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act. 2006,” count three read.
Count 12 read “That you, GODWIN-ISAAC REBECCA OMOKAMO (a.k.a. BILIKISU ISHAKU ALIYU), & HOMADIL REALTY LIMITED, between 2023 & 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly converted or transferred the sum of about N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) which represents proceeds of unlawful activity, to wit: obtaining by false pretenses from several individuals for the fraudulent sale of Plots 1861 &1862 Cadastral Zone B07, Katampe District, Abuja, with the aim of disguising the illicit origin of the funds, and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 15(1)(a) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. “That you, IDAKWOGI RICHARD JOHN & RYCHADO HOMES LIMITED, sometime in December 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Hanourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the total sum of N45,000,000.00 (Forty Five Million Nairo) from Labaran Magaji by falsely representing that you had genuine title and ownership over Plot 1863 Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, and fraudulently induced him to make payment for the acquisition of a portion of the said property, knowing that the representations were false, thereby committing an affense contrary to Section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006,” count 13 read.
When the counts were read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all 17 counts.
Following their plea, EFCC’s counsel, Samuel Chime asked the court for a date to commence trial. He told the court that his witnesses are ready to testify in the case against the defendants. Counsel for the 1st and 2nd defendants, Christopher Oshomegie, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, moved a bail application dated March 17, 2025 on behalf of his clients.
He informed the court that the defendants were already on administrative bail and urged the court to grant them a long adjourned date to enable them prepare for the case.
Similarly, M A. Ebute, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the 3rd and 4th defendants, moved an application for bail of his clients dated April 25, 2025, urging the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
The prosecution did not oppose the bail applications by the defendants but urged for speedy trial.
Justice Abdulmalik granted the defendants bail of N10m each, with two sureties in like sum. She said the sureties must own properties within Abuja and must be Federal Civil servant of up to Level 16, who must produce evidence of salaries within the last three months and depose to affidavit of means.
The court also said the the 1st and 3rd defendants must deposit their international passports before the court.
Pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that the 1st defendant be demanded at the Correctional Centre Suleja while the 3rd defendant be remanded at the Correctional Centre Kuje.
She subsequently adjourned till July 21 for commencement of trial In a sister case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/2025 the EFCC arraigned Godwin-Isaac Rebecca Omokamo…. (AKA BILKISU ISHAKU ALIYU) alongside her husband, Isaac Yusuf Ishaku, Homadil Realty Limited and Idakwogi Richard John on a five-count charge of criminal conspiracy and fraud.
The EFCC accused the defendants of “fraudulently acquiring Piot 4022. Guzape District, Abuja, belonging to Mrs. Colleen Mero Yesufu, by means of farse rapresentation and fraudulent documents, knowing the same to be false, with the intent to unlawfully take possession of the sald property and deceive the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the Abu Geographical information System (AGIS), and the Department of Development Control and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance fee fraud and Other Related Offences Act. 2006.”
Among others, they were accused of facilitating the sale of a building on the same plot, for the sum of N70m, while disguising as the true owners of the property fraudulently acquired through forged documents, and channeling proceeds through Homadil Realty Ltd. Again, the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Following their plea, Christopher Oshomegie, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the 1st to 3rd defendants, Christopher Oshomegie, prayed the court not to remand both husband and wife in correctional centres as their young children may not be able to bear the absence of both parents on the same day.
The senior lawyer requested that the court should hand over the second defendant to him, promising that he will personally ensure that he is available for trial.
Justice Abdulmalik granted his request and ordered that the defendants remain on the bail granted in the earlier suit while the 2nd defendant will be handed over to his lawyer who will sign an undertaking that he will always be present for trial.
The case was also adjourned till July 21 and 22 for trial.