The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has arrested a serving High Court registrar, a retired deputy sheriff, three lawyers, and ten others, including security agents and a court bailiff, over their alleged involvement in a land scam worth over N20 billion.
PCACC Chairman Muhuyi Magaji Rimin-Gado disclosed this on Thursday during a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Kano.
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The commission described the scheme as an organized crime facilitated by a network of legal practitioners, court officials, land registry staff, and security agents. It revealed that the fraudulent activities involved forging government documents, securing fake court judgments, and using them to unlawfully acquire both public and private properties.
The case came to light after a Kano High Court ordered the arrest and investigation of a key suspect, Suleman Ali. The court had received numerous complaints regarding fraudulent land dealings, but action was only taken after PCACC intervened, leading to the suspect’s arrest three years later.
According to the commission, more than 15 suspects have been apprehended, including four officials from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning. While some of the suspects remain in PCACC custody following a court remand order, others have been released on bail.
During the press conference, PCACC displayed various exhibits recovered from the suspects, including falsified land grant letters, counterfeit fire service reports, and a significant amount of cash. One of the suspects allegedly attempted to bribe a Department of State Services (DSS) operative with over N2 million to secure his release, but the officer rejected the offer.
Further investigations revealed that a High Court registrar had been certifying forged documents to facilitate fraudulent transactions. The PCACC reported this to the Judicial Service Commission, which immediately directed the implicated officers to present themselves for questioning.
The commission also uncovered an attempt to use the identity of a deceased individual to fraudulently claim ownership of a property valued at billions of naira. A suspect allegedly bribed a court bailiff to falsely confirm document service to a man who had been dead for over ten years.
PCACC commended the Kano High Court, under the leadership of Honorable Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, for its cooperation in issuing search and arrest warrants and ensuring transparency throughout the investigation. It emphasized that despite multiple attempts to obstruct the probe through bribery, the commission remained committed to exposing the network behind the fraud.
The investigation is ongoing, with the commission warning that no individual, regardless of their position, will be exempt from accountability as efforts to dismantle the syndicate continue.
