LAND FRAUD: Kabiru Haruna’s Wife Arrested?

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today arrested Hajia Jumai Kabiru, wife of the Chairman of Saraha Homes, an Abuja based estate developer who has been linked with several land-grabbing
scandals in the Federal Capital Territory.

Reliable EFCC sources told Daily Times that Hajia Jumai was around 12noon today as efforts of the anti-graft body to apprehend the husband Alhaji Kabiru Haruna for the past few weeks have proved abortive. Haruna is said to have gone into hiding following several invitations from EFCC for him to answer questions on allegations of illegal land deals in Abuja.

According to EFCC sources, the organisation arrested Jumai not only because she is the wife of the wanted land jobber but that she is deeply involved in the businesses of her husband especially on Abuja lands. Jumai is said to be the Managing Director of Saraha Homes.

One of our sources told Daily Times that the arrest of Jumai Haruna may not be unconnected with an on-going investigation bothering on Plot 67 Kafe situated around Gwarinpa area of FCT. Saraha Homes Limited is alleged to have collected millions of Naira from hundreds of unsuspecting Abuja residents and sold to them, plots of land belonging to another company.

Victims of the racketeering are said to have paid between N5million to N7million on each plot of land that was allocated to another Company. Kabiru through his company, Saraha Homes allegedly collected money from over 200 people all of who have paid fully for the plots, amounting to N1billion. Many of those who bought the land have equally commenced development, some almost at finishing level.

According to insider sources from the office of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) the land in question Plot 67 Kafe situated around Gwarinpa area of FCT was allocated to a company called Winning Clause Limited by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The sources said there was no allocation granted to Saraha Homes or to one Alhaji Kabiru Haruna in respect of the land.

But Saraha Homes is said to have claimed ownership of the land and had brandished documents suspected to be forged and on which it has convinced unsuspecting Nigerians desperate to own lands into paying millions for plots.

One of our sources told Daily Times that Winning Clause had dragged Alhaji Kabiru Haruna and his company Saraha Homes to an Abuja court seeking to declare their encroachment into Plot 67 Kafe as illegal. Afraid of the consequences of the possible outcome of the litigation, Alhaji Haruna was said to have initiated action to settle the matter with Winning Clause out of court and have made some offers which Winning Clause is said to have rejected, demanding that he vacate the site.

According to our sources, Winning Clause had equally written a petition to the EFCC on the illegal take over of its land by Alhaji Haruna and his company Saraha Homes. We were told that the letter, dated 28th January 2013 was signed by P. I. N Ikwueto a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Chairman of Winning Clause. The letter was said to have contained documents in which Alhaji Haruna had acknowledged that he was not the owner of the land as well as offers he had made to see that the matter was settled out of court. But the management of Winning Clause are said to be cautious in their dealing with Alhaji Haruna in view of several information that he is a known land grabber with several court cases against him and his Saraha Homes.

Daily Times was equally told that one of Hajia Jumai had tried to mediate in the matter by holding meeting with the owners of Winning Clause at which she made offers that Winning Clause said were far less than attractive.

We also gathered that some residents of Plot 67 Kafe, out of ignorance that they have been duped, had written several articles in some papers, taking side with Saraha whom they thought was the rightful owner of the land until the FCT authorities came out clearly in January this year to declare Winning Clause as the owner of the land.

Source: Daily Times