EFCC Arrests Abuja-Based House Agent Over ₦288m Property Fraud

Operatives of the Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested a 42-year-old estate agent, identified as Mohammed Sani, over an alleged ₦288 million property scam. The arrest, which took place on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, followed a series of petitions from victims who claimed they had paid for high-end residential properties in the Maitama and Guzape areas of Abuja, only to discover the titles were forged and the properties belonged to other individuals.

According to preliminary investigations, Sani operated under the guise of a legitimate real estate consultancy firm, using sophisticated marketing materials and forged documents from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to convince his targets. One of the victims, a Nigerian based in the United Kingdom, reportedly paid over ₦120 million as a down payment for a duplex that was never delivered. EFCC officials revealed that the suspect had been on their watch list for several months following a spike in reports of fraudulent land transactions within the FCT.

During a raid on his office in Wuse Zone 4, several incriminating items were recovered, including fake allocation letters, multiple international passports, and luxury vehicles suspected to have been acquired with the proceeds of the crime. The EFCC spokesperson stated that the commission is currently tracking other members of the syndicate who assisted in the forgery of official documents. The suspect remains in custody and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. The commission also urged members of the public to exercise "due diligence" and verify property titles at the appropriate government agencies before making any payments.