A 33-year-old lawyer, Luka Linus Yabagi, was on Tuesday arraigned before the Life Camp Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja over allegations of defrauding a client of N7.25 million under the pretense of securing a land allocation in the Federal Capital Territory.
The defendant, who resides in Dakwa, Abuja, faces multiple charges including cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and uttering forged documents. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
According to Police Prosecutor Charity Nwachukwu, the complaint was lodged by one Mukhtar Isah on December 9, 2024, at the Gwarinpa Police Station.
The prosecution alleged that Yabagi misrepresented himself as having strong connections with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and promised to facilitate a land allocation in Guzape II under a statutory right of occupancy.
Isah was allegedly convinced to transfer N7.25 million into an Access Bank account registered under the name Linus Befiyo Luka. In return, Yabagi reportedly issued a bundle of forged documents, including an offer letter, a site plan, a certificate of occupancy, and other paperwork—purportedly assigning Plot No. 2233 in Guzape II to a company named Paiamist Nig. Ltd.
Investigators later discovered that the documents were forged and did not originate from the Department of Land Administration. Police said Yabagi could not offer a satisfactory explanation for the misrepresentation and had gone into hiding before eventually being apprehended.
The offences contravene Sections 322, 312, 364, and 366 of the Penal Code.
Magistrate Musa Jobbo granted the defendant bail set at N1 million, with two sureties required. One must own property within the court’s jurisdiction and provide valid identification. Additionally, the defendant was ordered to deposit N2 million with the FCT High Court Registry.
The case has been adjourned until June 19, 2025, for hearing.
