EFCC Arraigns Lawyer For Alleged N12m Land Fraud In Enugu
One Barrister Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo has been arraigned by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State on a five-count charge bordering on forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N12,000,000. 00 (Twelve Million Naira only).
Barrister Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo was arraigned for count three of the charge reads: “That you, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo on 15th day of January, 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Nine Million Naira only (N9,000,000.00) from one Wilson Ikeani Igwe under the false pretence of the sale of three plots of land situated at Emene, Enugu State to him.
A pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
Count four of the charge read, “That you, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo on 15th day of December, 2014 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Three Million Naira only (N3,000,000.00) from one Wilson Ikeani Igwe under the false pretence of the sale of one plot of land situated at Emene, Enugu State to him, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Chikezie Raymond Edozie prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility.
However, the defendant, who announced legal representation for himself made an oral application for bail which the court granted on the following terms;
Two sureties in the like sum of 25million Naira. One of the sureties must have a landed property in Enugu metropolis. The other surety must be a blood relation and must submit three years Tax Clearance to the court. Both sureties must depose and submit an affidavit of means and the EFCC is to verify the sureties and their addresses within seven working days of receipt of the sureties details. The defendant in addition shall submit to the Deputy Court Registrar his international passport.
The court thereafter permitted the defendant to go home based on self-recognizance but gave him 10 (ten) days to perfect the bail conditions or the EFCC shall arrest him and take him to a Correctional Facility.
The matter was adjourned to May 13 and 14, 2025 for trial.
PR
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, is meeting with the staff of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) in Abuja in an effort to resolve the ongoing industrial strike action that has disrupted flight operations across the country.
The closed-door meeting seeks to address grievances raised by NiMET workers, including the non-implementation of the national minimum wage, exclusion of certain employees from past allowances, and the neglect of critical training programmes.
Present at the meeting were the Director General of NiMET, representatives from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the National Union of Transport Employees, and other key stakeholders.
Also in attendance are members of several unions, including the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals, and the National Union of Air Transport Employees.
The strike, now in its second day, has significantly affected flight schedules at several airports, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja and the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, leaving passengers stranded.
In a statement, Air Peace cited safety concerns as the reason for its decision to suspend flights amid the disruption
In a bid to improve access to affordable housing across Nigeria, the Nigeria Government is set to introduce tax incentives aimed to reduce the burden on real estate developers and building material suppliers,
Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, made this known at a Building and Construction Industry Forum in Abuja.
Mr. Oyedele noted that the recently signed tax reform bills include provisions that would lower the cost of building materials and stimulate investment in the construction sector.
According to him,“It will reduce the tax burden—whether you’re buying, building, or selling real estate,”
“That’s the essence of these reforms: to make life better for everyone and to boost economic activities in the building and construction sector, and by extension, the entire economy.”
He emphasized that the government’s commitment to creating more accessible mortgage options for Nigerians across all income levels and called for greater collaboration among industry stakeholders to address persistent issues such as multiple taxation.
Also speaking at the forum, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Ahmed Dangiwa—represented by Director of Public Building, Mr. Temitope Gbemi—highlighted the potential of the tax reforms to integrate the informal economy into the formal construction sector.
He encouraged builders and developers to incorporate capital gains into project planning for better cost documentation and tax planning.
Dr. Samson Opaluwa, Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), expressed optimism that the reforms would enhance revenue generation within the sector.
He underscored the need for inclusive discussions given the industry’s composition.
“This industry is largely driven by SMEs, which produce about 60 to 70 percent of the country’s housing stock,” he noted.
On his part, the Executive Director of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN), Mr. Festus Adebayo, stressed the need for the government to provide incentives to developers interested in social housing. He criticized the high costs, multiple charges, and bureaucratic hurdles that make affordable housing a distant reality.
The Federal Government has commenced a three-day Induction Programme for newly appointed Permanent Secretaries and the Accountant-General of the Federation.
The programme is designed to strengthen strategic leadership and policy execution at the topmost level of the federal bureaucracy.
Declaring the programme open, in Abuja, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, congratulated the appointees and described their roles as critical to effective governance and national development.
The Head of Service who noted that Permanent Secretaries serve as the engine room of government, responsible for driving policy implementation, institutional performance, and service-wide reform urged the inductees to uphold the highest standards of integrity, diligence, and teamwork,
She stressed that the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 (FCSSIP 25) depends significantly on their leadership.
“This final lap of FCSSIP 25 calls for urgency, accountability, and strategic focus. You must translate vision into measurable results,” she said.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Mrs. Fatima Mahmood, described the programme as a strategic investment in leadership capacity and institutional effectiveness.
The Sessions featured expert-led discussions, simulations, and strategic briefings facilitated by Engr. Suleiman Adamu, former Minister of Water Resources; Dr. Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination; Mrs. Beatrice Jedy-Agba, Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Federal Minister of Justice; Alh. Yusuf Addy, retired Federal Director; Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Amb. Mustapha Lawal Suleiman, Mr. Adesola Olusade, and Dr. Ifeoma Anagbogu, all retired Permanent Secretaries.
Participants include Dr. Obi Emeka Vitalis, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Mr. Danjuma Mohammed Sanusi, Mr. Olusanya Olubunmi, Dr. Keshinro Maryam Ismaila, Dr. Akujobi Chinyere Ijeoma, Dr. Umobong Emanso Okop, Dr. Isokpunwu Christopher Osaruwanmwen, Mrs. Oyekunle N. Patience, Dr. Kalba U. Danjuma, Mr. Nadungu Gagare, Mr. Onwusoro I. Maduka, Dr. Usman Salihu Aminu, Mr. Ogbodo Chinasa Nnam, Mr. Ndiomu Ebiogeh Philip, Dr. Anuma N. Ogbonnaya, Mr. Adeladan Rafiu Olaninre, and Mr. Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, as well as the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Shamseldeen Babatunde Ogunjimi.
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