Benin City woman to face court over alleged N446m fraud

Stanley Ihedigbo

Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is set to arraign one Rita Izehia Iyoha for property fraud.

According to the Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale, Iyoha, 58, in collaboration with her sister, Fidelia Oghenetejiri, is alleged to have defrauded one Frank Obruche Esemudje and his wife of the sum of N446m under the pretence of selling a property, located in Effurun, Warri, to them.

The petitioner alleged that the duo of Iyoha, the principal suspect, and Oghenetejiri presented themselves as the rightful owners of the property, which they claimed was an inheritance from their father. However, the petitioner, upon payment, could not take possession of the property, as there was a subsisting court judgment restraining the sisters from disposing of the property. Efforts by the petitioner to get his money back proved abortive as Iyoha immediately relocated to Ghana after the transaction.

Despite her relocation, the EFCC kept track of her and consequently arrested her upon her visit to Nigeria at a popular motor park in Lagos.

She has made useful statements and will be arraigned in court soon.

Oghenetejiri, on the other hand, is facing prosecution before Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, on a three-count charge that borders on advance fee fraud and obtaining by false pretence.

One of the charge reads: “That you Fidelia Oghenetega Jemu on about the 22nd of May 2025 in Warri, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court by false pretence and with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N50m via your First Bank account number 3217460863 from Frank Obruche Esemudje under the pretence that the money was for the purchase of a property, situated at No 54 Airport Road, Effurum and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act
She pleaded “not guilty” to the charge and was remanded in a Correctional Centre.