Kaduna man jailed for land fraud, ordered to refund N1.55m

A Kaduna State High Court has sentenced Abdullahi Haladu to five years in prison for defrauding a land buyer of N1.55 million.

Justice Darius Khobo delivered the judgment after Haladu pleaded guilty to an amended three-count charge of conspiracy and cheating, filed by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC revealed that Haladu and his accomplice, Kabiru Liman (already convicted), conspired in April 2021 to impersonate the rightful owners of a plot of land located at Mangoron Agwai in Sabon Gari Malalin Gabas.

They fraudulently sold the 105×45-foot plot to one Malam Sani Isyak for N1,550,000, complete with a signed sales agreement, despite having no legal claim to the property.

The fraud came to light when the buyer discovered the land deal was fake and reported the matter to the EFCC, prompting Haladu’s arrest and subsequent prosecution.

Upon his guilty plea, EFCC counsel M.E. Eimonye urged the court to convict him. Justice Khobo sentenced Haladu to five years in prison, with an option of a N200,000 fine, and also ordered him to fully refund the N1.55 million to the victim.