Eric Patrick
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Kaduna Zonal Directorate, has secured the conviction and sentence of one Abdullahi Haladu, before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court for land fraud.
He was prosecuted on an amended three-count charge, bordering on conspiracy and cheating to the tune of N1,550,000.00.
The EFCC made this known in a statement shared on its Facebook page in the late hours of Thursday.
The count charge read, “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, 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.
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Justice Khobo, thereafter, sentenced him to five years imprisonment or to pay N200,000.00 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 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.