*Arrests 47 suspected internet fraudsters in Benin, recover rifle
WorldStage Newsonline– Operatives of the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested one Alhassan Garba for his suspected involvements in several cases of land fraud in Kaduna.
The serial land fraudster who is entangled in scores of land racketeering matters in the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the EFCC parades himself as estate agent and would usually leave his unsuspecting victims in tears and regret in their dealings with him.
Head, Media&Publicity of EFCC, Mr. Dele Oyewale, disclosed in a press statement that in one of such cases, the suspect allegedly sold a piece of land to his victim at the sum of N14,500,000 after which the victim discovered that the documents he gave to him were forged and that the land did not belong to the suspect.
According to him, the Commission’s investigation further revealed that the victim paid the money into a UBA account provided by the suspect, while an analysis of the account showed that the sum of N900,000 and N8,800,000 were respectively transferred to the suspect and to a company account.
In another matter, Oyewale stated, the suspect in October 2020 approached a victim through one of his accomplices, who advertised a piece of land at Tsaunin Kura G.R.A, Sabonn Tasha, Kaduna with the claim that it belonged to one Muhammed Murtala Khalid.
“As the victim showed interest to buy the land, Garba, alongside his accomplice and Khalid visited the victim in his office where N8,000,000 was agreed as price for the land.
“The victim paid N7,802,000 in tranches into the Zenith Bank account of Khalid and an additional cash of N198,000 to Garba.
“The victim was given an Offer of Grant, bearing Barnabas Dauda and a Deed to which Khalid signed as assignor, while one Imam signed as witness.
“The victim later visited the land, only to realise that it rather belonged to someone else,” the spokesperson stated further.
He stated also that in a case reported to the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Commission on January 23, 2023, the suspect and five others, allegedly sold plots of land worth N32,000,000 to a victim with fake title documents, way back in March 2018.
“In 2022, the suspect alongside two others, allegedly approached a victim while posing as genuine owners of a plot of land, situated on No. 33B Yusuf Hamisu Road T.P.O Government Area Center Residential Layout Mahuta Igabi L.G.A of Kaduna State.
“The suspect and his cohorts succeeded in selling the land to the victim at the cost of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira), only for the victim to later discover that the property did not belong to them.
“Garba once jumped the Commission’s administrative bail and had to be smoked out of his hideout in Kabala Costain, Maiduguri Road, Kaduna and rearrested on August 12, 2025,” he further disclosed.
He said the suspect would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are concluded in any of the cases involving him.
SUSPECTED INTERNET FRAUDSTERS
In another development, operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of EFCC have arrested 47 suspected internet fraudsters in Edo State with a Pump Action rifle and live cartridges, recovered from one of them.
According to statement from the office of Commission’s Spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, their arrest on Friday, August 15, 2025 followed credible intelligence that linked them to fraudulent internet activities.
Other items recovered from them, according to the statement, include six vehicles, mobile phones and laptop computers.
He said they will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
