EFCC Drags Lawyer Back to Court Over Alleged N15.7m Land Scam, Witness Intimidation Rocks Trial
By Passman Akpos
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu Zonal Directorate, has re-arraigned a legal practitioner, Barrister Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo, before the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, over an alleged N15.7 million land fraud.
Nwobodo was brought before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo on a 20-count amended charge bordering on forgery, possession of forged documents, and obtaining by false pretence involving the sum of N15,700,000.
The defendant was initially arraigned on January 27, 2025, on a five-count charge before the same court, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was subsequently granted bail on self-recognition, paving the way for trial.
During the trial, counsel to the EFCC, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, Chikezie Raymond Edozie, presented six witnesses and tendered several exhibits, all of which were admitted as evidence by the court.
At the resumed hearing on April 23, 2026, the prosecution informed the court of an amended charge, which expanded the allegations against the defendant from five to 20 counts. The fresh charges were read to Nwobodo, and he again pleaded not guilty.
Following the plea, the prosecution formally closed its case, while the matter was adjourned to April 30, 2026, for the defendant to open his defence.
The EFCC also recalled that on March 4, 2026, the court issued a stern warning to Nwobodo over allegations that he had been harassing and intimidating prosecution witnesses both within and outside the court premises.
Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo warned that his bail could be revoked if such reports persisted.
According to count one of the charge, Nwobodo allegedly forged a land purchase receipt worth N9 million on January 15, 2014, purportedly issued by one Onyekachi O. Nwocha and Christiana C. Nwocha, with intent to defraud.
The prosecution said the act contravenes Section 1(2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Count seven further alleged that on April 25, 2014, the defendant knowingly presented another forged land purchase receipt valued at N5.5 million to one Ude Chinedu Emmanuel, falsely claiming it was issued by the same parties.
This, according to the EFCC, also constitutes an offence punishable under the same law.
Interestingly, Nwobodo announced appearance for himself in court and is expected to begin his defence as proceedings continue today.
The case has continued to attract attention within legal and public circles in Enugu, given the weight of the allegations and the court’s warning over alleged witness intimidation.
