The Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , on Wednesday, arraigned a land agent, Godfrey Oscar Opara before Justice Pat Ajoku of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The defendant was arraigned on four- count charges bordering on obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N25.4m (Twenty-Five Million Four Hundred Thousand Naira), “an offence that contravenes Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Count one of the charges read: “That you Godfrey Oscar Opara between 16th October, 2020 and February 1st, 2022 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Nine Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N9,200,000.00) from Sobomabo Amachree under the pretence of transferring and holding yourself out as the rightful owner of one and half plots within a parcel of land situate in Akwu Otula, Ngbakiri, Okemeni, Rumuolumeni, Obi/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, property of Mr. Anthony Omiete, the pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offence Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you Godfrey Oscar Opara between sometimes in 2022, at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Sixteen Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N16,200,000.00) from Mr. Ibim Simeon Dakubo under the pretence of transferring and holding yourself out as the rightful owner of two plots within a parcel of land situate in Akwu Otula, Ngbakiri, Okemeni, Rumuolumeni, Obi/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, property of Mr. Anthony Omiete, the pretence, you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
When the charge was read to Opara, he pleaded “not guilty” to the offence.
The prosecuting EFCC lawyer, M. Abubakar, told the court that in view of the plea by the defendant, urged the court to schedule a new date for commencement of trial.
But the defence lawyer, Okey Ehogwo, informed the court of his client’s pending bail application while Abubakar opposed the request .
In her ruling on the bail application, Justice Ajoku granted bail to Opara in the sum of N1million and two sureties in like sum.
The judge added that the sureties must be public servants with the River State Government or with the Federal Government of Nigeria and should not be less than grade level 12.
The judge further directed the sureties to deposit two recent passport photographs with the court registry and be resident in Port Harcourt, with a landed property which must have a C of O (Certificate of Occupancy).
The judge also stated that the sureties shall provide a letter of evidence from their offices, either from the Federal or State Government
Justice Ajoku remanded Opara in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service pending fulfillment of his bail conditions and adjourned the matter till May 6, 2024 for commencement of trial.
Opara was arrested for selling a landed property entrusted to him for sale by someone that employed him as a land agent. He neither remit the money to the owner of the land nor return his land to him.
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