The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Abubakar Iliyasu Saminu before Justice Nasiru Saminu of the Kano State High Court on charges of land fraud amounting to N31.25 million.

According to the anti-graft agency, Saminu allegedly obtained the sum from one Muhuyi Adamu under false pretenses between August 2023 and February 2024. The funds were reportedly paid through both cash transactions and deposits into the defendant's Zenith Bank account.

The EFCC's investigation revealed that Saminu falsely presented himself as the legitimate owner of 91 plots of land purportedly located at Panshekara NEPA in Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State. After purchasing the land, Muhuyi Adamu subsequently sold it to another buyer, Nuruddeen Suleiman Ishaq.

The fraud was uncovered when Nuruddeen began developing the property, prompting the actual owner to come forward with original title documents. Further investigation by the EFCC established that forged documents had been used in the fraudulent transaction.

The charge against Saminu reads: "That you Abubakar Iliyasu Saminu, between August 2023 and February 2024 at Kano, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N31,250,000 from Muhuyi Adamu through your bank account with Zenith Bank and cash under the false pretense that you are the owner of 91 plots of land at Panshekara NEPA in Kumbotso Local Government, which was subsequently sold to Nuruddeen Sulaiman Ishaq—a pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act."

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when arraigned. While prosecution counsel Douglas I. Gift requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant, defense counsel Nasir Abdulrahman applied for bail.

After considering the arguments, Justice Saminu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N25 million with two sureties. One of the sureties must own a landed property within Kano metropolis with a valid Certificate of Occupancy, which must be deposited with the court. Additionally, the surety is required to submit a written undertaking that the property will be forfeited should the defendant jump bail.

The case has been adjourned to June 25, 2025, for commencement of trial.