EFCC calls first witness as ₦19m land fraud trial commences in Lagos

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, has presented its first prosecution witness (PW1), Abiodun Gafar Ademolade, a businessman, in the trial of Murtala Adebayo over an alleged ₦19 million land fraud before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.

According to the Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, Adebayo is facing trial on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, following his re-arraignment.

The defendant had earlier pleaded not guilty when he was first arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the same court.

Investigations revealed that between 2015 and 2019, Adebayo allegedly obtained the sum of ₦4.5 million from the PW1, who is also the nominal complainant, under the guise of selling three plots of land at Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos.

The defendant was also accused of collecting ₦5.5 million for another 18 plots of land at Ayegbemi Village, Ibeju-Lekki, as well as receiving two Toyota Camry vehicles and one Honda Accord, valued at ₦9 million, from the complainant under false pretences.

The alleged offences contravene Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006.

At the resumed sitting on Monday, Ademolade, in his testimony, told the court that the defendant is his father-in-law and the family head (Olórí Ẹbí) of Ajah.

The PW1 stated that he met the defendant about 14 years ago and was encouraged by him to invest in the land business.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, I. O. Daramola, the PW1 narrated that he first paid ₦500,000 in the presence of Adebayo’s secretary, simply identified as Ahmed, also known as DPO, and one Godwin Richard.

While giving further evidence, the witness said Adebayo later offered him three plots of land at Ogombo for ₦4.5 million, for which he made several cash payments in the presence of the two individuals.

He added: “A few years later, I was introduced to another land deal involving 18 plots at Ayegbemi, Ibeju-Lekki, where I made payments through bank transfers and cash to Godwin on the defendant’s instructions.

“I also handed over three vehicles to him as part of the transaction.”

The PW1 stated that although receipts and agreement documents were issued to him, he later discovered during site visits that the lands had either been sold or were not available.

“Verification at the Alausa Land Registry showed that the properties were not for sale.

“I later discovered that the receipts and agreements issued to me by Adebayo were ‘gbagirogi’ (fake documents), as they did not contain the lawyer’s contact details.

“I decided to petition the EFCC through my lawyer when efforts to resolve the matter through his family failed.”

During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered receipts for the three plots of land, deeds of agreement for the lands, documents relating to the 18 plots, and receipts for the vehicles. The exhibits were admitted in evidence by the court.

Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Bamidele Ogundele, the witness confirmed receiving ₦4.5 million from the defendant for the Ogombo land. He also admitted that most of his payments were made to Godwin based on the defendant’s verbal instructions.

“He later confirmed them,” the witness told the court.

He further acknowledged that the defendant issued receipts for the payments and that bank statements reflecting the transactions were admitted in evidence.

When questioned about an earlier ₦30 million demand letter issued through a law firm, the witness explained that it was part of a civil claim, adding that the criminal case was based on the receipts issued by the defendant.

Justice Oshodi adjourned the case to March 3 and 4, 2026, for continuation of trial.