The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1,has presented its first prosecution witness in the trial of Murtala Adebayo, who is standing trial over an alleged ₦19 million land fraud.
The case is before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.
The first prosecution witness, Abiodun Gafar Ademolade, a businessman, testified that the defendant fraudulently obtained various sums of money and vehicles from him under the pretence of selling parcels of land in Lagos.
Adebayo is facing a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was earlier arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada of the same court.
According to investigations, between 2015 and 2019, the defendant allegedly obtained ₦4.5 million from the complainant for three plots of land at Ogombo, Ajah, ₦5.5 million for 18 plots of land at Ayegbemi Village, Ibeju-Lekki, and also collected two Toyota Camry vehicles and one Honda Accord, valued at ₦9 million, under false pretences.
While testifying, Ademolade told the court that the defendant is his father-in-law and the Olórí Ẹbí (family head) of Ajah. He said he met Adebayo about 14 years ago and was encouraged by him to invest in land business.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, I. O. Daramola, the witness narrated that he initially paid ₦500,000 in cash in the presence of the defendant’s secretary, identified as Ahmed (a.k.a. DPO), and one Godwin Richard.
He further testified that Adebayo later offered him three plots of land at Ogombo for ₦4.5 million, for which he made several cash payments in the presence of the same individuals.
“A few years later, I was introduced to another land transaction involving 18 plots at Ayegbemi, Ibeju-Lekki. I made payments through bank transfers and cash to Godwin on the defendant’s instructions,” the witness said.
He added that he also handed over three vehicles to the defendant as part of the transaction.
Ademolade told the court that although receipts and agreements were issued to him, he later discovered during site visits that the lands had either been sold to other persons or were not available.
“Verification at the Alausa Land Registry showed that the properties were not for sale. I later discovered that the receipts and agreements issued to me were fake documents, as no lawyer’s contact details were indicated,” he said.
He explained that after efforts to resolve the matter through family intervention failed, he petitioned the EFCC through his lawyer.
During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered receipts, deeds of agreement for the three plots and the 18 plots, as well as receipts for the vehicles, all of which were admitted in evidence by the court.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Bamidele Ogundele, the witness confirmed that he received ₦4.5 million from the defendant for the Ogombo land. He also admitted that most payments were made to Godwin based on the defendant’s verbal instructions, which he said were later confirmed by Adebayo.
He acknowledged that receipts were issued for the payments and that bank statements reflecting the transactions were admitted in evidence.
Responding to questions on a ₦30 million demand letter earlier issued through a law firm, the witness described it as part of a civil claim, noting that the criminal case was based on the receipts issued by the defendant.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until March 3 and 4, 2026, for continuation of trial.