Crime, Trending

Abuja Police Arrest Four in N150m Land Fraud Masquerading as FCT Minister Wike

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 26th, 2026.

A suspected fraud ring accused of impersonating the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has been uncovered in Abuja, with four individuals now in police custody over an alleged N150 million land scam.

The development was confirmed by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, who disclosed that the suspects were apprehended following complaints linked to fraudulent land transactions in the Guzape II area of the capital.

According to Olayinka, one of the key suspects was arrested on Tuesday at a residence in the Nigeria Army Post Housing Estate, Kurudu. Preliminary investigations indicate that the group allegedly deceived a retired Major General, A. K. Ibrahim, along with other victims, into parting with large sums of money under the guise of securing land allocations.

As reported by The Nation, the suspects reportedly claimed to have direct links to the FCT Minister and officials within the land administration system, using that false narrative to gain the confidence of their targets.

Authorities say the victims were promised documentation for a high-value property—Plot 1985 in Guzape II, spanning approximately three hectares—alongside other parcels of land. The syndicate allegedly collected over N150 million in total, with assurances that official land titles would be processed and delivered.

During interrogation, the arrested suspect reportedly named additional accomplices believed to be connected to departments within the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). Coverage by Daily Trust indicates that two individuals linked to the Urban and Regional Planning unit have been identified as part of the network and are currently under investigation.

Officials say the case highlights the growing trend of fraudsters exploiting the names of high-ranking government figures to carry out sophisticated scams, particularly in Abuja’s lucrative real estate sector.

Security agencies have assured that investigations are ongoing, with efforts being intensified to apprehend other members of the syndicate and recover funds obtained from victims.

The FCT administration has also urged the public to verify all land-related transactions through official channels to avoid falling prey to similar schemes.