A prosecution witness in the ongoing land fraud and money laundering trial of Rebecca Omokamo and three others has told the Federal High Court in Abuja that the defendants failed to produce any title documents establishing ownership of the disputed properties.

 

The trial resumed on Thursday before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) calling two witnesses as it continued prosecuting the case on behalf of the Federal Government.

 

Justice Abdulmalik rejected the EFCC’s application seeking to remand Omokamo in its custody until October 26, 2026, when the trial is scheduled to continue.

 

The ruling came barely 48 hours after the court ordered the anti-graft agency to produce Omokamo before it following her absence at the previous hearing on Tuesday.

 

Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Christopher Mshelia, the fifth prosecution witness, Ahmed Gbigbadua of the commission’s Extractive Force Unit, testified that the agency commenced investigations after receiving a petition from the chambers of Femi Falana, SAN, acting on behalf of Colleen Yesufu over ownership of Plots 1861, 1862 and 1863 in Katampe District, Abuja.

 

According to the witness, investigations revealed that the defendants were unable to provide any evidence showing they were the original allottees or lawful owners of the disputed plots.

 

Gbigbadua told the court that May Estate Agency, Fafan Agency Limited and Adamu Ayinloda Estate Company were the entities that applied for the plots and obtained Rights of Occupancy and other statutory documents conferring legal ownership.

 

He added that one Shaka Braimah subsequently collected the title documents for the three plots from the Federal Capital Territory Department of Land Administration.

 

He said the defendants, Rebecca Omokamo, Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited, were invited for questioning but failed to produce any title documents or other evidence establishing ownership of the properties.

 

The witness further alleged that despite lacking ownership documents, the defendants proceeded to sell portions of the land to unsuspecting buyers.

 

He testified that Homadil Realty Limited and Rychado Homes Limited issued offer letters, payment receipts and other transaction documents, but insisted that such documents could not substitute for statutory titles issued by the FCT Department of Land Administration.

 

He also stated that investigators found no deed of assignment, power of attorney or any other instrument showing that ownership had been legally transferred from the original allottees to the defendants.

 

“The defendants presented themselves to members of the public as owners of the plots with authority to sell them,” the witness told the court.

 

Earlier, the fourth prosecution witness, Abdulhamid Wundil of the FCT Department of Land Administration, admitted during cross-examination that a letter authorising the issuance of the plots to Shaka Braimah existed but said he could not locate the department’s copy.

 

Responding to questions from defence counsel Christopher Oshomeghie, SAN, Wundil acknowledged that the document, issued in 2007 when the department operated from Wuse, might have been lost.

 

Tension rose during the latter part of the proceedings when the prosecution informed the court that it had filed an application seeking the revocation of Omokamo’s bail and urged the court to remand her in EFCC custody pending the next hearing.

 

Justice Abdulmalik, however, dismissed the application in a firm ruling.

 

Addressing the prosecution, the judge queried: “Don’t you think you are becoming too personal about this case? Are you witch-hunting something?”

She explained that her earlier order directing the EFCC to produce Omokamo was solely to ensure her attendance for trial and did not warrant her detention.

 

The judge held that there was no basis for remanding the defendant, noting that she had not posed any challenge to the proceedings or shown unwillingness to stand trial.

 

The matter was subsequently adjourned until October 26, 2026, for the continuation of trial, with the cross-examination of Gbigbadua expected to resume.

 

Omokamo had reportedly remained indoors for 23 consecutive days after EFCC operatives maintained surveillance around her residence, a situation the commission’s counsel previously described as a “self-imposed house arrest.”

 

Rebecca Omokamo was arraigned in June 2025 before Justice Abdulmalik in two separate criminal cases marke FHC/ABJ/CR/76/2025, containing 17 counts, and FHC/ABJ/CR/77/2025, containing five counts.

 

Her co-defendants include her husband, Isaac Yusuf Ishaku, Homadil Realty Limited, Idakwogi Richard John and Rychado Homes Limited.