EFCC arraigns woman, daughter-in-law for alleged land fraud

The Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Blessing Webilor Nchelem and her daughter in-law, Deborah Jack, earlier than Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal Excessive Court docket, Port Harcourt, Rivers State for a number of fraud.

They have been arraigned on four-count cost bordering on legal conspiracy, acquiring cash underneath false pretence and retention of proceeds of illegal act to the tune of N6 million.

Rely two of the cost reads: “That you just, Deborah Jack, Blessing Webilor Nchelem, Chimenem Peter Webilor (now at giant) between fifteenth November, 2022 to twenty first March, 2023 at Port Harcourt inside the jurisdiction of this honourable courtroom, with intent to defraud, did receive in a single transaction, the sum of Six Million Naira (N6,000,000,00) solely from Senibo Richmond Opusunju as consideration for the sale of three plots of land, positioned at Rumuapu, Rukpokwo Obio/Akpor Native Authorities Space of Rivers State, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby dedicated

an offence opposite to Part 1 (1) (a) and punishable underneath Part 1 (3) of the Advance Price Fraud and different Fraud Associated Offences Act.”

They pleaded “not responsible” to the fees once they have been learn to them, following which prosecution counsel E. Ok. Esien-Otu, prayed the courtroom to repair a date for graduation of trial and for the defendants to be remanded within the custody of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), whereas the defence counsel, S. O. Aburu orally utilized to the courtroom to grant the defendants bail to allow them put together for his or her trial.

Justice Ajoku who declined the oral bail software, requested the defence counsel to make a proper bail software and ordered the defendants to be remanded in EFCC’s custody.

The defendants have been arrested when a petitioner alleged that in October, 2022, he was launched by his son to one of many defendants Peter Webilor, who claimed to be a property agent and had two plots of land on the market, positioned at Rumuapu and Rukpokwu, Obi/Akpor Native Authorities Space of Rivers State for which he later paid a complete sum of N6 million into the checking account of one of many defendants, Deborah Jack.

The petitioner, nevertheless, quickly came upon after fee that he couldn’t take possession of the properties, as a unique individual materialised and claimed real possession of the properties. Since then, all efforts made by the petitioner to get well his cash met a brick wall.

Dele Oyewale

Head, Media & Publicity

June 3, 2024