Justice S.I. Mark of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, has ordered the remand of Julie Akue Onwuegbu and her husband, Wisdom Onwuegbu, in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre over an alleged N10 million land fraud.
The couple was arraigned on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, by the Port Harcourt Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a three-count charge of advance fee fraud and obtaining money under false pretence.
One of the charges stated that between April 11 and April 15, 2024, the defendants, with intent to defraud, obtained N10 million from Mr. Taofik Bello under the pretence of selling a plot of land at Queen Park Estate, Ohia Eli-Mini, Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State, a claim the prosecution said was false.
The offence is contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel, I. Igwu, asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand them, while defence counsel, Igwe Okoronkwo, said a bail application was pending and prayed the court to admit them to bail to enable them prepare for trial.
Justice Mark ordered their remand in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre and adjourned till July 10, 2026 for ruling on the bail application.
The case began with a petition in November 2024. The petitioner alleged that one Enitan Joseph introduced him to Julie Onwuegbu in April 2024, claiming she had land for sale at Queens Park Estate, Eneka, Port Harcourt.
The petitioner said he paid N10 million in two instalments of N1 million and N9 million into the defendant’s EcoBank and First Bank accounts. He was issued a signed Deed of Conveyance, but his attempt to develop the land was stopped by another claimant.
Further enquiries showed the first defendant did not own any land in the estate. The EFCC also alleged that part of the proceeds was transferred to a company account belonging to her husband. Efforts to recover the land or the money were unsuccessful.
