In a case that underscores the persistent challenges of land administration fraud in Nigeria's capital, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Zahradeen Muhammed Bello and Abdullahi Abdullahi. The duo appeared before Justice H. Muazu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, facing seven-count charges including theft of official documents, forgery, and conversion of case files.
The charges pertain to activities involving the Department of Land Administration (FCT) and the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS). According to the EFCC, Bello and Abdullahi conspired to steal and forge official documents between March 2023 and June 2024.
One of the charges against them states: “That you, Zahradeen Mohammed Bello and Abdullahi Abdullahi, sometime between March 2023 and June 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with intent to defraud, did conspire between yourselves to do an unlawful act to wit: theft of official documents from the Department of Land Administration (FCT), Abuja, and Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 96 (1)(a) of the Penal Code and Punishable under Section of the Penal Code Cap 532 LFN, Abuja, 1990.”
Another charge states: “That you, Zahradeen Mohammed Bello and Abdullahi Abdullahi, sometime between March 2023 and June 2024, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, did with intent to defraud, fraudulently steal plain letter-headed papers with the inscription of Coat of Arms, property of Abuja Geographic Information System, with serial number 022347, found in your possession without the consent of AGIS and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 286 (1) of the Penal Code and Punishable under Section 287 of the same code Cap 532 (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) FCT, Abuja, 1990.”
Both defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Prosecution counsel F. O. Dibang requested a trial date and an adjournment, while defence counsel Tamunotonye Ekundayo sought a short adjournment to formally apply for bail for her clients.
Justice Muazu adjourned the case till June 28, 2024, for the filing of the defendants’ bail applications and set October 2, 2024, for the commencement of the trial. Meanwhile, Bello and Abdullahi have been remanded in EFCC custody.
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