EFCC Arraigns Man for Alleged N31m Land Scam

The Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, arraigned one Roland Osagbakoe Omo Ogebebor and his company Harchrow Construction Nigeria Limited before Justice S. M. Shuaibu of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State on a three-count charge of obtaining money by false pretense.

According to a statement issued by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the defendant is alleged to have defrauded one Ogweda Mutana of the sum of N31, 000,000.00 over a land deal.

One of the charges  reads, “that you, Roland Osagbakoe Omo Ogbebor being managing director of Harchrow Construction Nigeria Ltd and Harchrow Construction Nigeria Ltd on or about April 2020 in Benin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did with intent to defraud induced one Ogweda Mutana  to pay the sum of N18,000,000.00 into account Number 0068207275 domicile at Sterling Bank operated by you under the false pretense that the money is for payment for six plots of land measuring 200ft by 200ft situate at Okhoromi Community, Benin a pretense you knew to be false and there by  committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1( 3) of the same Act”.

Omo Ogbebor and his company pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Mohammed asked the court to fix a date for trail and remand the defendant.

However, the defense counsel, Chief M.I Ukpebor informed the court that he had filed a bail application before the court and served the prosecution.

Justice Shuaibu adjourned the case till March 8, 2022 for a hearing of the bail application and remanded the defendant in a Correctional facility.