EFCC Arrests Abuja Realtor Over Alleged ₦500m Land Fraud

According to Ireporter Online, Rebecca was taken into custody on Wednesday after leaving her residence in Guzape, Abuja, where she had earlier alleged that EFCC operatives had restricted her movement for about 23 days.

Her arrest came after Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered the anti-graft agency to produce her in court on Thursday, July 23, following her failure to appear for the continuation of her criminal trial.

During Tuesday’s court proceedings, Rebecca’s lawyer, Christopher Oshomeghie, claimed that EFCC officials had surrounded his client’s residence for several weeks, preventing her from leaving due to concerns over her safety.

However, the prosecution, led by Benedict Ubi, rejected the claim, stating that Rebecca was not detained by the commission but had remained inside the apartment voluntarily despite having access to the keys.

The prosecution argued that EFCC officials stationed outside the property were acting in accordance with an interim forfeiture order issued by the court and were not restricting her freedom.

Ubi further accused Rebecca of frustrating the enforcement of the court order and violating the terms of her administrative bail by travelling outside the court’s jurisdiction without approval.

In response, her lawyer maintained that the continued presence of EFCC operatives had effectively restricted his client’s movement and affected her wellbeing.

After considering arguments from both sides, Justice Abdulmalik directed the EFCC to take Rebecca into custody and present her before the court for the continuation of proceedings, noting that her legal representative had confirmed she had access to the apartment keys.

In a related civil matter involving the disputed property, the court dismissed an application seeking clarification on an earlier order directing parties to maintain the status quo.

The judge stated that court orders should be respected as issued, rejecting the argument that legal representatives could reinterpret directives made by the court.

The EFCC informed the court that it had filed an application seeking final forfeiture of the disputed property, while another application from a third party seeking to join the case was also pending.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the joinder application would be considered first before other pending applications and adjourned the civil case until October 15.

Sources within the EFCC disclosed that Rebecca voluntarily left the property before her arrest, insisting that she was not confined inside the residence as previously claimed by her legal team.

Rebecca was arraigned on June 18, 2025, before Justice Abdulmalik in two separate criminal cases involving allegations of fraudulent land transactions.

She is standing trial alongside her husband, Isaac Yusuf Ishaku, Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited.

The EFCC accused the defendants of obtaining more than ₦500 million from victims between 2023 and 2024 through the alleged sale of properties using forged documents, including fraudulent Powers of Attorney.

The properties involved include Plot 4022 in Guzape and several plots located in Katampe, Abuja.

The anti-graft agency also alleged that funds generated from the transactions were transferred through company accounts in a manner suspected to constitute money laundering.

Among the witnesses presented by the prosecution is 79-year-old widow Colleen Yesufu, while another witness, Abu Gambo, told the court that he allegedly lost ₦62 million after purchasing two plots of land in Katampe whose ownership records were later removed from the Abuja Geographic Information Systems database.