EFCC arraigns man over alleged ₦150m land fraud in Asaba
The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Ndubuisi Iheukwumere John before Justice Agbaje Olufunmilola Adetutu of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, over an alleged ₦150 million fraud.
According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement issued on Friday, 30 January 2026, the defendant was arraigned on Monday, 26 January 2026, on a two-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and obtaining money by false pretence.
One of the charges alleged that Ndubuisi Iheukwumere John conspired with Emmanuel Emifoniye and Salt Adaeze Udoka, both currently at large, in November 2024 in Asaba, Delta State, to commit the offence of obtaining by false pretence, contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
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EFCC arraigns man over alleged ₦150m land fraud in Asaba
Nkereuwem Effiong
The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Ndubuisi Iheukwumere John before Justice Agbaje Olufunmilola Adetutu of the Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State, over an alleged ₦150 million fraud.
According to the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, in a statement issued on Friday, 30 January 2026, the defendant was arraigned on Monday, 26 January 2026, on a two-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and obtaining money by false pretence.
One of the charges alleged that Ndubuisi Iheukwumere John conspired with Emmanuel Emifoniye and Salt Adaeze Udoka, both currently at large, in November 2024 in Asaba, Delta State, to commit the offence of obtaining by false pretence, contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The second count alleged that between 1 and 7 December 2024, the defendant and Salt Adaeze Udoka, also at large, fraudulently obtained the sum of ₦150 million from one John Abike Ifejiofor under the false pretence that the money was the purchase price for a parcel of land located at Ewulu Community in Delta State. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, the prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility. However, defence counsel applied for bail, arguing that the alleged offences were bailable.
Justice Adetutu granted the defendant bail for ₦5 million, with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that one of the sureties must own a landed property with valid title documents, which would be verified by the court registrar in conjunction with EFCC operatives.
The judge also ordered the defendant to submit a certified statement of his bank account to the court.
The case was adjourned until 16 March 2026 for the commencement of the trial.
