Justice Chinyere Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, sitting in Kuje, has ordered the remand of three property owners linked to Delta Mega Trends in Kuje and Suleja correctional facilities pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The defendants, Omofo Cordelia, Benjamin Tobrise, and Avwaadjuvwo Jonathan, were arraigned on a two-count charge of providing false information and making false statements to the police.

Count one of the charge, marked CR14/2025, reads: “That you, Omo Cordelia, ‘f’, Benjamin Tobrise, ‘m’, and Avwaadjuvwo Jonathan, ‘m’, all of Plantation City Estate, Otokuto, Delta State, sometime in the year 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: giving false information, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 96 of the Penal Code Act.”

Count two states: “That you, Omo Cordelia, ‘f’, Benjamin Tobrise, ‘m’, and Avwaadjuvwo Jonathan, ‘m’, all of Plantation City Estate, Otokuto, Delta State, sometime in the year 2024, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, made false statements to the police against Mr Sam Ogrih and Mr Godspower Ekpoh, which you knew or believed to be false, with the intention of causing the police to use its lawful powers as a public service to the injury or annoyance of Mr Sam Ogrih and Mr Godspower Ekpoh, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 140(b) of the Penal Code Act.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following submissions from their counsel, Justice Nwecheonwu granted the defendants bail of N1 million each, with one surety per defendant who must reside and own property in Abuja.

However, the judge ordered their remand in Kuje and Suleja correctional facilities pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions and adjourned the case to April 28, 2025, for hearing.

When approached for comments, Mrs Elsie Oghenekaro, a sister to one of the defendants, declined to speak on the matter.

However, the Corporate Manager of Delta Mega Trends, Mr Goodluck Osolobri, accused the property owners of spreading falsehoods about the organisation.

“The property owners resorted to writing petitions everywhere, lying about our organisation and management,” he said.

“Because we have our name to protect, we decided to provide security operatives with relevant details concerning our operations. It is high time developers are encouraged to conduct due diligence. It is a bitter experience when subscribers we sold properties to conspire to chase us away from our investment after we have provided them with amenities such as electricity, water, and others as stipulated in the agreement.

“I appeal to developers to operate with integrity, as it is the only way to challenge malicious statements or actions from subscribers with ulterior motives,” Osolobri added.