Picnews
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce Abuja-based estate agent, Rebecca Omokamo, before it on Thursday for the continuation of her trial over alleged land fraud, forgery and money laundering.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the directive on Tuesday after Omokamo failed to appear for the resumed hearing of the criminal case.
Her counsel, Christopher Oshomeghie, SAN, informed the court that his client had remained inside her Guzape residence for 23 days following an alleged siege by armed EFCC operatives, claiming that she was afraid to leave the premises.
The senior advocate argued that Omokamo’s inability to attend court was a direct consequence of the EFCC’s alleged actions at her residence.
However, EFCC counsel, Benedict Ubi, disputed the claim, telling the court that the defendant had placed herself under a “self-imposed house arrest” following the court’s interim forfeiture order on the disputed property.
Ubi alleged that Omokamo had hindered efforts by EFCC officials to enforce the order and had travelled outside the court’s jurisdiction in violation of the conditions attached to her administrative bail.
Responding, Oshomeghie maintained that armed EFCC operatives had remained at the property for 23 days, adding that the situation had negatively affected his client’s health.
The EFCC counsel, however, insisted that Omokamo was neither detained nor prevented from leaving the residence, stating that she had possession of the keys and had chosen to remain indoors.
Following confirmation from the defence counsel that his client had the keys to the apartment, Justice Abdulmalik directed the EFCC to produce Omokamo in court on Thursday and keep her in its custody pending further proceedings.
The other defendants in the case are Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited. Only John, the Chief Executive Officer of Rychado Homes Limited, was present in court during the proceedings.
Meanwhile, in a related civil matter filed by the EFCC, Justice Abdulmalik expressed displeasure after Oshomeghie sought clarification on an earlier order directing parties to maintain the status quo.
The senior advocate had argued that despite the order, EFCC operatives continued to occupy his client’s Guzape property, allegedly preventing her from leaving the premises for nearly a month.
The judge responded that court orders should be respected, stating: “When I make an order, I go to sleep,” while cautioning counsel against interpreting orders beyond what the court had decided.
The EFCC informed the court that it had filed an application seeking the final forfeiture of the disputed property, while another party had also applied to be joined in the suit.
Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the joinder application would be considered before other pending applications and adjourned the civil matter until October 15 for hearing.
Omokamo was arraigned in June 2025 in two separate criminal cases marked FHC/ABJ/CR/76/2025 and FHC/ABJ/CR/77/2025, alongside her husband, Isaac Yusuf Ishaku, Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited.
The EFCC alleged that between 2023 and 2024, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than ₦500 million from unsuspecting property buyers through the sale of plots of land allegedly backed by forged documents, including fake powers of attorney, involving properties in Guzape and Katampe areas of Abuja.
The commission further alleged that proceeds from the transactions were laundered through company accounts.
Among those listed as alleged victims is 79-year-old widow, Colleen Yesufu. Another prosecution witness, Abu Gambo, had earlier told the court that he lost ₦62 million after purchasing two plots of land in Katampe whose titles were later removed from the records of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS).
