Posted by Chinenye on Tue 21st Jul, 2026 - tori.ng
A dramatic courtroom clash has unfolded in Abuja as a property agent’s absence from trial triggers a fresh legal battle between her defence team and the EFCC.
(EFCC. Photo by Punch News)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was ordered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday to bring Abuja-based real estate agent Rebecca Omokamo before the court on Thursday to continue her trial for alleged land fraud, forgery, and money laundering.
After Omokamo failed to show up for the criminal case's resumed hearing, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order.
Christopher Oshomeghie (SAN), her attorney, told the court that his client had stayed inside for the previous 23 days because she was too terrified to leave her Guzape home after armed EFCC agents allegedly besieged it.
The senior advocate said her absence from court was a direct consequence of the agency's actions.
However, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Benedict Ubi, disagreed, arguing that the defendant had placed herself under what he described as self-imposed house arrest following the court's interim forfeiture order over the disputed property.
He further alleged that the defendant, Omokamo, had frustrated efforts by EFCC officials to enforce the order and had repeatedly travelled outside the court's jurisdiction in breach of the conditions of her administrative bail.
Responding, defence counsel Oshomeghie maintained that armed EFCC operatives had continued to occupy the property for 23 days, adding that the prolonged siege had taken a toll on his client's health.
The prosecutor, however, insisted that Omokamo had the keys to the apartment and had locked herself inside, stressing that EFCC operatives neither confined nor detained her.
After Oshomeghie confirmed that his client was indeed in possession of the keys, Justice Abdulmalik directed the EFCC to produce Omokamo before the court on Thursday and keep her in its custody pending the continuation of the trial.
The other defendants in the matter are Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited. Only John, the Chief Executive Officer of Rychado Homes Limited, was present in court.
Earlier, in a related civil suit filed by the EFCC, Justice Abdulmalik rebuked Oshomeghie after he sought clarification on the court's earlier order directing parties to maintain the status quo.
The senior advocate had argued that despite the order, EFCC operatives had continued to occupy his client's property in Guzape, effectively preventing her from leaving the premises for nearly a month.
Responding, the judge remarked that once an order is made, it should be complied with without further interpretation from counsel.
The EFCC informed the court that it had filed an application for the final forfeiture of the disputed property, while another party had also applied to be joined in the suit.
Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the application for joinder would take precedence over other pending applications and adjourned the civil matter to October 15 for hearing.
Omokamo was arraigned in June 2025 in two separate criminal cases alongside her husband, Isaac Yusuf Ishaku, Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited.
The EFCC alleged that between 2023 and 2024, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than N500 million from unsuspecting buyers by selling plots of land using forged documents, including fake powers of attorney, involving properties in Guzape and Katampe.
The commission also accused them of laundering the proceeds through company accounts.
Among the alleged victims is a 79-year-old widow, Colleen Yesufu. Another prosecution witness, Abu Gambo, had earlier testified that he lost N62 million after purchasing two plots in Katampe whose titles later disappeared from the records of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems.