EFCC arraigns man for N7m land scam in Enugu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Chidi Ogbodo before the Enugu State High Court on one count charge bordering on personation.

Ogbodo was arraigned before Justice V.N Ajogwu on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

The EFCC said the defendant, in January 2022, allegedly fraudulently presented himself as the owner of a plot of land located at Censers Avenue in Enugu and collected the sum of N7,035,000 in tranches as payment for the sale of the land.

The anti-graft agency told the court that the buyer subsequently discovered that the land does not belong to him, adding that every effort to retrieve her money proved abortive.

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The charge against Ogbodo read: “That you, Chidi Ogbodo sometime in January 2022 at Enugu State, within the  jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud committed a felony to wit: Personation, when you falsely represented yourself to be Ugwu Hycienth owner of Plot 4 Censers Avenue, Ugwu-Afa Awkunanaw Amechi in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, and thereby committed an offence of Personation contrary to and punishable under section 460 of the Criminal Code law, revised Edition, Cap 30 Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004 ”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was read to him.

The prosecution counsel, Michael Ani, prayed the court to remand the defendant and fix a date for trial to commence.

Justice Ajogwu, therefore, adjourned the matter till April 28, 2023, and remanded the defendant in a correctional centre.

The Star