The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to take Abuja-based estate agent Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac into custody and produce her in court for the continuation of her trial over alleged land fraud, forgery and money laundering involving more than ₦500 million.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued the order on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, after Omokamo failed to appear for the continuation of the criminal proceedings.
The judge directed the EFCC to produce her before the court on Thursday, July 23, and keep her in custody pending the resumed trial.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, EFCC counsel Benedict Ubi told the court that Omokamo had placed herself under what he described as “self-imposed house arrest” following an interim forfeiture order made over a disputed property in Guzape, Abuja.
Ubi alleged that the defendant had been obstructing EFCC officers from enforcing the court’s order and had repeatedly travelled outside the court’s jurisdiction in breach of the conditions of her administrative bail.
Omokamo’s counsel, Christopher Oshomeghie, SAN, however, told the court that EFCC operatives had laid siege to his client’s residence for about 23 days, leaving her afraid to step outside.
The senior lawyer argued that his client had effectively been confined indoors by the continued presence of armed operatives at the property and had become unwell as a result of the situation.
The prosecutor rejected the claim, maintaining that Omokamo had the keys to the apartment and had personally locked herself inside.
He said the EFCC officers stationed outside the property were carrying out enforcement duties and had neither locked her in nor prevented her from leaving to attend court.
After Oshomeghie confirmed that his client had the keys to the premises, Justice Abdulmalik held that her absence could not be blamed on the EFCC and ordered the commission to take her into custody and produce her at the next sitting.
Omokamo was reportedly taken into custody after voluntarily leaving the building in compliance with the court’s directive.
Earlier, the court heard arguments in a related civil forfeiture suit filed by the EFCC concerning the disputed Guzape property.
Oshomeghie drew the judge’s attention to the continued presence of EFCC officers at the property despite an earlier order directing the parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
He sought clarification on the effect of the order, arguing that the alleged siege had prevented his client from leaving the property for almost one month.
Justice Abdulmalik rebuked the senior lawyer for attempting to interpret the court’s mind, saying, “When I make an order, I go to sleep,” and adding that counsel should not “think for the court.”
Ubi informed the court that the EFCC had filed an application seeking the final forfeiture of the disputed property.
He also disclosed that another party had applied to be joined in the civil proceedings.
The judge held that the joinder application must be determined before the other pending applications and adjourned the civil suit until October 15, 2026, for hearing.
Omokamo was arraigned on June 18, 2025, before Justice Abdulmalik in two separate criminal cases marked FHC/ABJ/CR/76/2025 and FHC/ABJ/CR/77/2025.
The first case contains 17 counts, while the second comprises five counts.
Her co-defendants include her husband, Isaac Yusuf Ishaku; Homadil Realty Limited; Idakwogi Richard John; and Rychado Homes Limited.
The EFCC alleged that between 2023 and 2024, the defendants fraudulently obtained more than ₦500 million from several buyers by selling plots of land with forged documents, including allegedly false Powers of Attorney.
The disputed properties include Plot 4022 in Guzape and several plots located in Katampe, Abuja.
The commission further alleged that proceeds from the disputed transactions were laundered through company bank accounts.
Among the alleged victims is Colleen Yesufu, a widow reported to be 79 years old when the criminal proceedings commenced.
One of the prosecution witnesses, Abu Gambo, had previously told the court that he paid ₦62 million for two plots of land in Katampe.
Gambo alleged that although the property information initially appeared on the records of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems, the titles later disappeared from the database.
The EFCC accused Omokamo and the other defendants of using forged land documents and false representations to dispose of properties to unsuspecting purchasers.
The defendants have denied the allegations and remain presumed innocent unless convicted by the court.
The criminal trial is expected to continue on July 23 following the order directing the EFCC to produce Omokamo in court.
