Police arraign three suspects over alleged N190m property scam
Three Suspects Charged in N190 Million Property Scam
The Nigeria Police Force has charged three individuals in connection with a property scam allegedly totaling N190 million. The defendants, identified as Tolulope Aiyetan, Umma Ibrahim, and Abdulbaki Abdulbaki, are accused of deceiving businessman Idris Ahmed Tijjani by falsely presenting a property for sale.
All three suspects have pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges brought against them. A court has granted them bail set at N10 million.
The charges, filed under case number CR/168/2026 on April 40, 2026, by Chief Superintendent Adama Musa from the Legal and Prosecution Section of the Criminal Investigation Department, allege a conspiracy among the suspects to defraud the businessman under the false pretense of selling a legitimate property. This conduct may violate Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.
During the upcoming trial, Tijjani is expected to provide evidence outlining how the defendants allegedly collaborated to mislead him and subsequently failed to refund the funds he provided. Three additional witnesses are also expected to testify.
The prosecution plans to introduce ten exhibits as evidence, which include witness statements, compliance forms, a memorandum of deposit, and various correspondence from Jaiz Bank related to the transactions in question. Notably, these documents will include evidence of a N150 million payment made by Tijjani.
The first count of the indictment states: “That you (1) Tolulope Aiyetan, (2) Umma Ibrahim, (3) Abdulbaki Abdulbaki, all male adults of FCT, Abuja, and (4) Jaiz Bank PLC, (5) Xenius Global Nigeria Ltd, on or about December 2023 at FCT, Abuja, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit: obtaining property by false pretense. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.”
The trial is set to proceed as scheduled.
