The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)has opened its case against Murtala Adebayo over an alleged N19 million land fraud, with the prosecution calling its first witness at the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja.
Adebayo was arraigned by the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 on a three count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence. He is standing trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi, having earlier pleaded not guilty when first arraigned before Justice Mojisola Dada.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, January 12, 2026, the prosecution presented Abiodun Gafar Ademolade, a businessman, as its first prosecution witness. Ademolade, who is also the nominal complainant, told the court that the defendant is his father in law and the 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 the prosecution counsel, I O Daramola, the witness explained that he initially paid N500,000 in cash in the presence of Adebayo’s secretary, Ahmed, also known as DPO, and one Godwin Richard.
According to Ademolade, Adebayo later offered him three plots of land at Ogombo, Ajah, for N4.5 million, for which he made several cash payments. He further testified that he was subsequently introduced to another land deal involving 18 plots at Ayegbemi Village, Ibeju Lekki, where he paid N5.5 million through a combination of bank transfers and cash.
The witness also told the court that he handed over two Toyota Camry vehicles and one Honda Accord, valued at about N9 million, as part of the transaction.
He said receipts and agreements were issued to him, but upon visiting the sites, he discovered that the lands had either been sold or were not available. Verification at the Alausa Land Registry, he added, showed that the properties were not for sale.
Ademolade described the documents issued to him as fake, noting that they lacked proper legal details. He said he petitioned the EFCC after attempts to resolve the issue through family intervention failed.
During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered receipts, deeds of agreement for the lands, and documents relating to the vehicles. All were admitted in evidence by the court.
Under cross examination, the defence counsel, Bamidele Ogundele, questioned the witness on payments made and documents issued. Ademolade confirmed receiving N4.5 million from the defendant in relation to the Ogombo land and admitted that most payments were made to Godwin based on Adebayo’s verbal instructions, which he said were later confirmed by the defendant.
He also acknowledged issuing a N30 million demand letter through a law firm, explaining that it was part of a civil claim, while the criminal case was based on the receipts issued by the defendant.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to March 3 and 4, 2026, for continuation of trial.
