EFCC to arraign woman for N446m property fraud in Benin-City

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

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 N446 million (Four Hundred and Forty Six Million Naira only) 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, 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 quickly relocated to Ghana after the transaction.

Although she relocated, the EFCC kept track of her. They arrested her at a popular motor park in Lagos during her visit to Nigeria. She has made useful statements and will be arraigned in court soon.

One of the charges read: “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 N50 million via your First Bank account number 3217460863 from Frank Obruche Esemudje. This was under the pretence that the money was for the purchase of a property, situated at No 54 Airport Road, Effurum. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006, which is punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

She pleaded “not guilty” to the charge and was remanded in a Correctional Centre.