Police arraign two men who sold off Abuja property, allegedly diverted N800m

Two individuals, Mshelia Silas and Sabo Jimeta, were charged by the Police Special Fraud Unit on Tuesday before the Federal High Court in Lagos with illegally selling property and allegedly converting N800 million.

Jitau Investment Limited was arraigned alongside the accused.

Three counts of conspiracy, fraud, and improper conversation of the fund are brought against the accused.

The defendants conspired to perpetrate the crime along with Albert Atiwurcha, Nanda Ezekiel, and J &J Holding Villa Limited, who are currently at large, according to the prosecution's CSP Emmanuel Jackson, who was assisted by Justin Enang.

Jackson testified before the court that the defendants planned their scheme and fraudulently auctioned off a property at 3, Bunu Sheriff Crescent, Katampe Extension, Abuja, for N800m with the aim to defraud.

The prosecutor informed Justice Nicholas Oweibo that Abubakar Zango owned the property that was auctioned.

The prosecutor claims that after selling the property, the defendants transferred the money into two accounts other than the one designated by Zango, the property's owner: Union Bank Plc account number 0041529275, which belongs to Jitau Investment Limited, and Zenith Bank Plc account number 1016265443, which belongs to J and J Holding Villa Limited.

Sections 1(3) and 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006, according to the prosecutor, as well as Section 15(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended in 2012.

The defendants' attorneys, Kyari Gadzama(SAN), Kole Bello, and J. W. Dong, informed the court after their plea that the bail applications for their clients had been submitted and served on the prosecution.

Gadzama urged the court to give his client bail in the most lenient conditions possible and to be released on self-recognizance when presenting the bail applications.

The second defendant's attorney agreed with Gadzama's arguments.

However, the prosecutor objected to the bail requests.

Justice Oweibo granted the defendants' request for bail in a brief ruling. Each defendant was granted N500 million in bail, with one surety in the same amount.

The defendants were ordered to remain in the custody of the SFU until their bail terms were satisfied by Justice Oweibo, who postponed the case's trial until June 21.

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