EFCC re-arraigns lawyer over alleged N91m land fraud in Enugu

The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a legal practitioner, Mike Ikegbunam, before the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu over an alleged N91 million land fraud.

The defendant was brought before Justice M. T. Segun-Bello on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering and obtaining by false pretence.

Ikegbunam, who was earlier arraigned on January 31, 2024, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar (now transferred) pleaded not guilty to all charges. He had previously been granted bail on self-recognisance and was ordered to deposit his Call to Bar Certificate with the court.

According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly obtained large sums of money from members of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions of Nigeria under the pretext of securing plots of land for them in Anambra State.

One of the charges states that he allegedly collected N25 million on August 16, 2022, while another count alleges he received N20 million on October 26, 2022, both under claims of facilitating land acquisition in Orumba North Local Government Area.

EFCC counsel, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu, urged the court to fix a trial date to enable the prosecution to prove its case.

However, defence counsel S. E. Nnonyelu requested that the defendant be allowed to continue on the earlier bail conditions granted by the previous judge.

The court granted the application.

Justice Segun-Bello subsequently adjourned the matter to October 21 and 22, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

Ikegbunam was arrested on July 12, 2023, following a petition by the association’s branch at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, alleging that its members paid him N91 million for the purchase of 130 plots of land.

Investigations further revealed that the defendant allegedly refunded N10 million to the association, while part of the funds, about N16.5 million, was reportedly used to acquire three plots of land in Awka for personal use.