Photo Of Nigerian Couple Remanded In Prison For Alleged N10Million Land Fraud In Kaduna State

Justice A. Isyaka of the Kaduna State High Court has ordered the remand of a couple, Aisha Musa Hamisu and Farouk Anas, over their alleged involvement in a multi-million naira land fraud case.

The couple were arraigned by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges bordering on conspiracy, advance fee fraud, and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N10 million.

Anas and Hamisu were docked on a two-count charge following allegations that they fraudulently sold a piece of land to an unsuspecting buyer under false ownership claims.

Count two of the charge reads, "That you Aisha Musa Hamisu and Farouk Anas on or about the 17th of February, 2020 in Kaduna, within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N10,000,000 from one Jamilu Buhari under the false pretence that, you bought and possessed the farmland/property situated at Birni Yero along Kaduna-Zaria ExpressWay, Kaduna State, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence 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."

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, prosecution counsel M.O. Arumemi requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service. 

In response, defence counsel, Frank Akhareghemen, applied for bail on behalf of the couple.

In his decision, Justice Isyaka adjourned the matter to July 24, 2025, for ruling on the bail application and ordered the remand of the defendants.

According to the EFCC, the case stemmed from a petition filed by Aysha Ahmed & Co on behalf of Hajiya Adama Maina.

The petitioner alleged that the defendants fraudulently claimed ownership of a piece of land she had inherited from her late husband. 

The couple allegedly sold the land to Jamilu Buhari, claiming they had purchased it from the petitioner’s stepson, a claim later found to be false, as the stepson had no connection with the transaction.

The EFCC said investigations confirmed that the couple deliberately misrepresented their ownership of the land, deceiving the buyer and wrongfully profiting from the fraudulent sale.