A High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja, has ordered the remand of Professor Sani Ibrahim, a lecturer in the Biochemistry Department of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, over allegations of conspiracy, forgery, and criminal trespass relating to a land dispute in the Guzape area of the Federal Capital Territory. Professor Ibrahim was arraigned alongside Mubarak Musa Saliu and others currently at large.
The charges, brought by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, allege that the defendants tampered with official corporate documents in a scheme to unlawfully claim a plot of land registered to Nextdora Nigeria Ltd (RC. No: 1190723). According to the prosecution, the accused fraudulently altered the company’s registration number to RC. 564478, linking it to another entity, Netcap Interswitch.
The court was told that the accused were in possession of the forged documents in December 2024 and knowingly intended to use them as genuine in an effort to assert ownership over Plot No. 4411 in Guzape. The prosecution stated that the actions constituted offences under Sections 366, 368, and 348 of the Penal Code Act, which address forgery and criminal trespass.
Justice Ademuyiwa Oyeyipo presided over the case and heard that Professor Ibrahim had previously failed to appear in court on two occasions despite being duly served. His absence led to a police operation at ABU Zaria where he was arrested and brought before the court. Upon arraignment, Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His counsel, Reuben Atabo (SAN), filed a preliminary objection on May 20, 2025, challenging the court’s jurisdiction and citing discrepancies in the prosecution’s seal and name. The judge dismissed the objection after reviewing the legal arguments.
Although Atabo made an oral application for bail, the request was strongly opposed by the prosecution counsel, Barrister Frank Longe. Justice Oyeyipo ruled in favor of the prosecution and ordered that Professor Ibrahim be remanded in a correctional facility until June 19, 2025, when the court is expected to hear a formal bail application.
