Court jails man for land fraud in Kaduna, orders N1.55m restitution

A Kaduna State High Court sitting in the metropolis has sentenced one Abdullahi Haladu to five years imprisonment for defrauding a land buyer of N1.55 million.

Justice Darius Khobo delivered the ruling following Haladu’s conviction on an amended three-count charge of conspiracy and cheating brought against him by the Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

According to the EFCC, Haladu and his accomplice, Kabiru Liman (already convicted), conspired in April 2021 to falsely present themselves as owners of a plot of land located at Mangoron Agwai, Sabon Gari Malalin Gabas.

They fraudulently sold the land measuring 105×45 feet to one Malam Sani Isyak for N1,550,000 and signed a sales agreement, despite having no legal authority over the property.
The deception was uncovered when the buyer discovered the transaction was fake and petitioned the EFCC, leading to Haladu’s arrest and prosecution.

When arraigned, the defendant pleaded guilty to the charges. In response, the EFCC counsel, M.E. Eimonye, urged the court to convict him accordingly.

Justice Khobo sentenced Haladu to five years in prison, with an option of a N200,000 fine. The court also ordered him to make full restitution to the victim.

Court jails man for land fraud in Kaduna, orders N1.55m restitution