The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought Paulinus Ani before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar at the Federal High Court in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
According to a statement from the EFCC on Monday via X, Ani faces a single charge of obtaining money under false pretenses, involving the sum of N8,130,000 (Eight Million, One Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira).
The charge alleges that between October 2015 and June 2018, in Enugu, Ani, with the intent to defraud, persuaded Severus Ifeanyi Odoziobodo to pay him N8,130,000 under the false pretense of selling seven plots of land, which he knew was not true. This act is said to violate Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and is punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.
The statement indicated that Ani pleaded not guilty to the charge.
After Ani’s plea, EFCC counsel Nasir Umar requested a trial date and sought to have Ani remanded at the Enugu Correctional Facility.
In response, the defense counsel, O. S. Imaji, pointed out a pending bail application and urged the court to grant bail on “liberal terms,” noting that the defendant had a reliable surety.
However, the prosecution opposed the bail application, highlighting the increasing prevalence of land scams in Enugu. Umar urged the court to deny bail, stressing the need for a strong response to such crimes.
After considering both arguments, Justice Umar granted Ani bail with conditions, which included a N10 million sum and two sureties of the same amount, both required to reside in Enugu State.
Ani was remanded at the Enugu Correctional Facility until he meets his bail conditions, and the trial is scheduled to resume on January 23, 2025.
The case originated from a petition submitted to the EFCC on January 1, 2021, by Ifeanyi Odoziobodo. Odoziobodo claimed that in 2016, Ani, pretending to be a staff member of the Ministry of Land and Urban Development in Enugu State, offered plots of land in Emene and Independence Layout for sale.
Believing the plots were available, Odoziobodo paid N8,130,000 after being shown allocation documents. However, it later emerged that the plots had already been sold to other individuals who held valid Certificates of Occupancy.
After unsuccessful attempts to recover his money, Odoziobodo sought the assistance of the EFCC.
