Man Convicted for N2.3m Land Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes EFCC at the Gombe State High Court Gombe, secured the conviction of one Malam Umaru Kankani for offences bordering on possession of forged document. He was prosecuted before Justice Sa'ad Muhammad on one count charge.

Kankani's arrest and prosecution followed a petition alleging that sometime in June, 2016, he defrauded the complainant of N2.3million over a parcel of land situated at Federal Low-cost, Gombe, which ownership the convict fraudulently claimed.

The convict was first arraigned on 17th August, 2017 on a 2-count charge. On resumption of hearing today, an amended one count charge of possession of forged document was brought against the convict.

The charge read, “That you Mallam Umaru Kankani sometime in June or thereabout, at Gombe, Gombe State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being in possession of a forged document to wit; Application for Grant of Occupancy No.BA/17620 dated 6th February, 1984 bearing the name of Haruna Musa and with the intent that same be used and acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to and Punishable under Section 368 Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria”.

The convict pleaded guilty to the charge.

Upon his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Zarami Muhammad, urged the court to convict him .

Justice Sa'ad found him guilty as charged and sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of N20, 000 fine.