Woman Sentenced To Prison For ₦1.3m Fraud In Kano.
A Nigerian woman has been sentenced to a seven-year prison term by the Federal High Court in Kano for defrauding a victim of ₦1.3 million in a land scam, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced on Tuesday, 5 August 2025. The conviction of Hafsat Abdullahi, prosecuted by the Kano Zonal Office of the EFCC, underscores the agency’s ongoing efforts to combat financial crimes across Nigeria.
Abdullahi faced a one-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences, stemming from a fraudulent land deal in Sabon Gari, Kano State. The court heard that between 2019 and 2020, she misled the complainant into paying ₦1.3 million for a plot of land she falsely claimed to own. EFCC investigations revealed that Abdullahi had no legal title to the property and had used the funds for personal gain, leaving the victim without the promised land.
Justice J.K. Daggard, presiding over the case, found Abdullahi guilty after she pleaded guilty to the charge. In addition to the seven-year sentence, the court ordered her to pay ₦1.3 million in restitution to the victim. Failure to comply with the restitution order will result in an additional seven years of imprisonment. The EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, A.A. Gachi, hailed the ruling as a significant step in holding fraudsters accountable.
The EFCC’s Kano Zonal Office reiterated its commitment to tackling fraudulent activities, particularly property scams, which have become increasingly prevalent. The agency urged the public to exercise due diligence when engaging in land transactions and to verify ownership documents through appropriate authorities to avoid falling victim to similar schemes.
This conviction follows a series of successful prosecutions by the EFCC, including recent cases involving fraudulent land deals and other financial crimes across Nigeria. The agency continues to encourage citizens to report suspicious transactions to aid its investigations and protect potential victims.