Civil servant docked for allegedly selling fake plot of land

A civil servant, Yahaya Idris, was on Tuesday docked in  an Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada, FCT for allegedly selling a fake plot of land worth N1.5million.

The police charged Idris  with criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and cheating.

The Prosecution Counsel, Abdullahi Tanko told the court that the complainant, Dele Ani, who lives in Kuje Area Council, Abuja reported the matter at the police station on January 28.

Tanko said that the defendant and one Danjuma Yaro, now at large, in 2021 sold a fake plot of land to the complainant measuring 100 by 100 ft. He said that the land which was located behind the L.E.A, Kuje Area Council was sold to the complainant for N1.5million.

He said that after payment the complainant discovered that the same plot of land was been sold to another person.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 97, 311 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Defence Counsel, Hussein Isah, prayed the court to grant his client bail citing the provisions of Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to buttress his claims for bail.

The Judge, Sani Umar admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1.7million with one surety in like sum.

Umar ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must own a house or land worth N1.7 million.

He said the address of the surety must be verified and must provide means of identification.

He said that the surety must provide two recent passport photograph and if he fails to meet the bail conditions, he should be remanded in the Suleja correctional centre.

Umar adjourned the case until May 17 for hearing.