EFCC arraigns former presidential candidate over N66m land scam

Ambrose Owuru was a presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party.

A former presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party, Ambrose Owuru, was on Friday arraigned before Suleiman Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 5-count charge bordering on uttering, forgery, and obtaining money by false pretence.

Mr. Owuru allegedly obtained the sum of N66 million from one Ikechukwu Eze through a phony land deal.

The complainant alleged that sometime in March 2011, he paid N60 million through Skye Bank, Olu Obasanjo Road Branch, Port Harcourt, to Mr. Owuru for a property located at Nzimiro Street, Amadi flat, Port Harcourt.

In the process of taking possession of the property, it was discovered that a portion had been sold to another person. At this point, Mr. Owuru allegedly asked for another N6m to settle the other buyer, one Austin Omire, which Mr. Eze allegedly obliged him.

One of the count reads; “that you, Ambrose Owuru on or about the 7th day of March 2011 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did utter a forged “Certificate of Occupancy” dated 20th of March 1990 purportedly issued by the Rivers State Lands and Survey covering Plot 44A Amadi Layout, Port Harcourt and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(2) ( c ) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Law of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007, and punishable under section 1(2) of the same Act”.

The accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Justice Aliyu adjourned the case till August 13 for hearing on the bail application and commencement of trial. The court also ordered that the accused person be remanded in the EFCC custody.