The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Mrs. Godwin-Isaac Rebecca Omokamo, a popular real estate developer in the FCT, also known as Bilikisu Ishaku Aliyu.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mrs. Rebecca was arraigned by the EFCC alongside her husband, Mr. Isaac Yusuf Ishaku; their company, Homadil Realty Limited; as well as Idakwogi Richard John and a firm, Rychardo Homes Ltd.
Rebecca, her husband and the other defendants were arraigned before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where they were said to have perpetrated the land fraud and money laundering, levelled against them in two separate charges.
While the first charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/77/2025 contained five counts, the second charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/76/2025 had 17 counts. However, the defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them before Justice Abdulmalik.
According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly received over N500 million from multiple victims in the alleged land fraud between 2023 and 2024 and laundered the funds using the bank accounts of the companies listed in the charges.
The anti-graft agency told the court presided over by Justice Abdulmalik that both Rebecca and Ishaku used forged documents, including a fake power of attorney, to claim ownership of Plot 4022, located in the Guzape District of the FCT.
It further alleged that the first defendant used forged documents to secure a building permit from the FCT Department of Development Control and sold the land to a buyer for N70m.
Also, the EFCC alleged that the defendants obtained by false pretences, by fraudulently misrepresenting ownership and title over plot 1861, 1862 and 1863, Cadastral Zone, B07, Katampe District, Abuja, and thereby induced several unsuspecting individuals to part with their money for the acquisition of the said property, knowing same to be false.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves to obtain, falsify, and fraudulently acquire Plot 4022, Guzape District, Abuja, belonging to one Mrs Colleen Mero Yesufu, using false representation and fraudulent documents.
According to the EFCC, the defendants, by their actions, committed offences contrary to section 8(a) and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud & other Related Offences Act, 2006.
Following their not guilty plea, the defence, led by Mr. Christopher Oshomegie, SAN, and Mr. M. A. Ebutu, SAN, tendered a bail application that was admitted by the court.
Ruling on the application, Justice Abdulmalik granted Rebecca and Ishaku bail to the tune of N10 million each and ruled that both the first and second defendants deposit their passports with the court.
In granting the bail, the presiding judge ruled that the defendants produce two level 16 civil servants, who must be resident in the FCT for not less than 4 years, as sureties.
The court also ruled that the sureties are to produce tenancy agreements or certificates of occupancy of their residences. Ruling on the bail application, Abdulmalik ordered that the sureties deposit their passport with the court.
The sureties were also ordered by the judge to produce their three-month salary slip to the court and their letters of promotion as well.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that Rebecca, the first defendant, be remanded in the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, pending when she fulfilled her bail conditions, but ordered that Mr Ishaku be released to the senior defense counsel, citing family reasons.
The judge also ruled that the senior defence counsel should sign an undertaking, using the letterhead of his firm, that he would produce the second defendant in court during sittings.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to the 21st and 22nd of July 2025 for trial.
Meanwhile, EFCC’s counsel, Mr. Samuel Chime told the court that the prosecution has lined up 13 witnesses who will testify in the matter.