The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an alleged notorious land racketeering syndicate and its kingpin.

Arraigning the suspect before Justice Baba Shaini of High Court 30 of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, on Tuesday, the anti-graft agency said the prime suspects, Moses Erih and Micmerab Resources Nigeria Limited were capable of obtaining money by false pretences.

Though the case was stalled due to the absence of the defence Counsel, EFCC’s team led by Richard Dauda noted that the suspects were being arraigned on four count charges.

The court documents made available to New Telegraph indicate that the charges include, that “Sometimes in 2007 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of the court, with intent to defraud and obtain by false pretence property situated at plot ED 22, Sabon Lugbe East Layout, Abuja via a document captioned, “estate development lease agreement” between Messrs Uche Okoronkwo and Obi Okoronkwo Company Limited (complainant), and the suspect on 13 September 2007, purportedly executed by the complainant, which pretence, they knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to S.1 (1) (1a) and punishable under S.1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.

“That in the same court jurisdiction in Abuja, in the same 2007, the suspects forged a certain document to wit: “an estate development agreement” between the suspects and the complaint, Merss Uche Okoronkwo & Obi Okoronkwo with intent to cause the complainant to part with the same property in the same land and therefore committed an offence contrary to S 363 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, LFN (Abuja), 1990 and punishable under S.364 of the same law.

“That the suspects, sometimes in 2007 within the jurisdiction of the court, fraudulently used as genuine a certain document to be “estate development agreement” between the suspect, his company and Uche Okoronkwo and Obi Okoronkwo the complainant, which he knew to be a forged document and thereby committed an offence contrary to S 366 of the Penal Code Act Cap LFN (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under S 364 of the same law.

“That is the same 2007, within the court’s jurisdiction, suspect and his company knowingly had in their possession a forged document ie “estate development agreement” between him, his company and the complainant, intending that same shall fraudulently, be used as genuine and thereby committed an offence punishable under S. 368 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532 LFN (Abuja) 1990″.

Speaking after the court session, Counsel to the nominal complainant, Remy Agu Esq, said the case was been pursued to end the menace of land racketeering.

He enjoined all stakeholders to have a common synergy in other to fight the monster called land racketeering in FCT. (New Telegraph)

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