The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two brothers, Cypril Nwalaezi and Smart Chinedu Nwalaezi, before the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over allegations of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence through the fraudulent sale of the same parcels of land to multiple buyers.
The defendants were brought before Justice S. D. Pam by the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on an amended five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and land fraud involving a total of N3.2 million.
According to the anti-graft agency, the brothers allegedly deceived a prospective buyer into believing that they possessed valid and subsisting ownership rights over several parcels of land located along Umuasukpo Farm Road in Igbo-Etche, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. Acting on those representations, the complainant reportedly paid millions of naira for the properties, only to later discover that the same plots had been resold to other unsuspecting purchasers.
The EFCC maintained that its investigations established that the defendants knowingly misrepresented ownership of the properties and subsequently disposed of the same land to additional buyers after receiving payment from the original purchaser.
The commission argued that the alleged actions constitute offences under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
One of the charges specifically accused the first defendant, Cypril Nwalaezi, of fraudulently inducing Mr. Franklin Nwachukwu to purchase two parcels of land measuring approximately 1,150.805 square metres and 1,295.771 square metres, respectively.
According to the prosecution, the transaction took place on or about October 17, 2022, when Cypril allegedly represented that he held valid and subsisting title to the land situated at Umuasukpo Farm Road in Igbo-Etche.
Based on that representation, the complainant reportedly paid the sum of N2.75 million for the two parcels of land.
The prosecution told the court that the representation later turned out to be false, as the land was allegedly resold despite the earlier transaction.
The charge against the first defendant reads in part: “That you, Cypril Nwalaezi, on or about the 17th day of October, 2022, at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud and by false pretence that you had valid and subsisting title to parcels of land situated at Umuasukpo Farm Road, Igbo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, measuring 1,150.805 and 1,295.771 square metres, induced Mr. Franklin Nwachukwu to purchase the same and obtained the sum of N2,750,000 from him.”
The EFCC stated that the alleged conduct contravenes Section 1(1)(b) and (c) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The second defendant, Smart Chinedu Nwalaezi, is facing a similar allegation arising from another land transaction involving the same complainant.
According to the charge, Smart allegedly represented that he possessed lawful ownership of another parcel of land measuring approximately 467.912 square metres in the same area.
The prosecution alleged that, relying on the representation, Franklin Nwachukwu paid him N450,000 on or about November 3, 2022.
Investigators, however, claimed that the representation was false and that the land had also become the subject of multiple sales.
The charge against the second defendant stated: “That you, Smart Chinedu Nwalaezi, on or about the 3rd day of November, 2022, at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud and by false pretence that you had valid and subsisting title to a parcel of land situated at Umuasukpo Farm Road, Igbo-Etche, in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, measuring 467.912 square metres, induced Mr. Franklin Nwachukwu to purchase the same and obtained the sum of N450,000 from him.”
The prosecution maintained that the alleged offence also violates the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.
When the charges were read before the court, both defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts preferred against them.
Following the plea, prosecuting counsel, C. Okorie, requested the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and further urged that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Counsel to the first defendant, R. O. Agbabo, informed the court that a formal application for bail had already been filed on behalf of Cypril Nwalaezi.
She appealed to the court to exercise its discretion in granting bail, arguing that her client would make himself available for trial and required adequate liberty to prepare his defence.
Similarly, counsel to the second defendant, M. M. Nweke, informed the court that a separate bail application had also been filed for Smart Chinedu Nwalaezi.
He urged Justice Pam to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, assuring the court that he would not interfere with the trial process.
After considering the submissions of counsel, Justice Pam granted bail to the first defendant in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like amount.
The court further directed that the surety must reside in Port Harcourt and possess landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The second defendant was equally admitted to bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum.
Despite granting bail to both accused persons, the court ordered that they remain in custody at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre until they fulfil all the conditions attached to their respective bail.
Justice Pam subsequently adjourned the matter until September 17, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Providing further details of the case, the EFCC disclosed that the prosecution originated from a petition submitted by the complainant, Mr. Franklin Nwachukwu, in June 2024.
According to the commission, Nwachukwu informed investigators that he became suspicious after discovering in December 2023 that the parcels of land he had purchased from the defendants had allegedly been sold again to other unsuspecting individuals.
Following receipt of the petition, the EFCC commenced an investigation into the allegations.
The commission stated that its investigators examined the land transactions and allegedly confirmed that the two brothers had conspired to dispose of the same parcels of land to different purchasers despite having earlier received payment from the complainant.
According to the anti-graft agency, the disputed properties were subsequently resold for a combined sum of N3.2 million, leading to criminal charges for conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.
The EFCC reiterated its commitment to prosecuting cases involving land-related fraud, warning members of the public to exercise due diligence by verifying land titles and ownership documents before entering into property transactions.
The commission noted that fraudulent land transactions remain one of the growing forms of economic crime in Nigeria and pledged to continue working with relevant authorities to investigate and prosecute offenders in accordance with the law.
The case is expected to resume on September 17, 2026, when the prosecution will begin presenting evidence and witnesses in support of the charges against the two defendants.
