Cross-petition alleges that criminal and forfeiture proceedings were deployed to remove Rebecca from her completed home, with the EFCC’s forfeiture process reportedly seeking the property for the benefit of Colleen Mero Yesufu while other alleged beneficiaries stood to share in its value or proceeds.
An anti-fraud prosecution becomes deeply troubling when the prosecution’s own charge identifies Rebecca Omokamo Godwin-Isaac as the person allegedly duped to pay ₦110 million to Richard John Idakwogi of Rychado Homes , yet places her in the dock while a forfeiture process reportedly seeks to deliver the disputed property’s benefit to a private claimant.
That is the explosive contradiction at the centre of a cross-petition submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The petition alleges a coordinated conspiracy to defraud Rebecca, forcibly take over the completed family house she built at Plot 4022, Guzape, Abuja, and subsequently sell, transfer, allocate or otherwise distribute the property and its proceeds among alleged beneficiaries.
It names Colleen Mero Yesufu, Richard John Idakwogi of Rychado Homes Ltd, Kabiru Yaro, Abdulrahman Yesufu and Samuel I. Chime, among others, and demands an independent investigation into alleged fraud, conspiracy, competing documents, abuse of office and attempts to pervert justice.
EFCC Forfeiture Allegedly Sought for Colleen Mero Yesufu’s Benefit
The petition makes a particularly disturbing claim: that the forfeiture process filed in the EFCC’s name sought an order forfeiting the disputed properties “for the benefit of Colleen Mero Yesufu.”
Colleen Mero Yesufu is not the Federal Government. She is a private claimant in an unresolved civil ownership dispute.
The petition therefore asks why the coercive powers of the EFCC were allegedly being used to obtain possession for the benefit of one private litigant before the civil court determined the genuine owner.
It further demands an investigation into whether Colleen Mero Yesufu, Richard John Idakwogi of Rychado Homes Ltd, Kabiru Yaro, Abdulrahman Yesufu, Samuel Chime and any collaborating officials or intermediaries expected to receive the house, a share of its value, compensation, commission or proceeds after Rebecca’s removal.
The question is devastating:
Was the forfeiture proceeding intended to recover criminal property for the government, or to seize Rebecca’s completed house for Colleen Mero Yesufu and other private interests?
Rebecca Paid, Built and Occupied the House
According to the petition, Richard John Idakwogi of Rychado Homes Ltd identified the property, supplied the documents, delivered possession and received ₦110 million from Rebecca.
Rebecca paid ₦12 million more for economic trees and land clearing before constructing the residence and moving into it with her family.
This is not merely a contest over empty land.
It concerns an alleged attempt to take a completed family house financed, constructed and occupied by Rebecca and her family.
The EFCC’s Own Charge Identifies Rebecca as the Alleged Victim
The contradiction within the prosecution is stark.
According to the petition, Count Seven of the EFCC charge alleges that Richard John Idakwogi of Rychado Homes Ltd fraudulently represented that he was entitled to sell Plot 4022 and thereby duped Rebecca to pay ₦110 million.
That allegation identifies Rebecca as the person allegedly deceived and duped.
Yet Rebecca is being prosecuted alongside the man accused of deceiving her and receiving her money.
If Richard John Idakwogi of Rychado Homes Ltd allegedly defrauded Rebecca, why is Rebecca being treated as his conspirator rather than the alleged victim?
A Title Chain Founded on a Non-Existent Allottee
Both competing ownership chains reportedly originate from Amina Musa Usman, described as the original allottee.
However, the petition states that an earlier investigation by the ICPC initiated by Colleen Mero Yesufu could not establish her existence.
If Amina Musa Usman cannot be authenticated through NIN, immigration, banking, biometric, AGIS and FCTA records, every power of attorney, sale document, caveat and Certificate of Occupancy allegedly derived from her must undergo forensic examination.
The petition consequently challenges Colleen Mero Yesufu and Kabiru Yaro to produce the original title documents, sale agreement, proof of payment, receiving bank account, witnesses and complete transaction history supporting their alleged interest.
Rebecca’s family house cannot justly be seized on the strength of documents traced to an identity that is Non-existent.
Samuel Chime’s Reported Dismissal Deepens the Scandal
Samuel Chime’s alleged involvement makes an independent review even more urgent.
Civil-society organisation HEDA reported that Chime and others were dismissed after an internal investigative panel reportedly found them culpable of receiving bribes to sabotage cases. Separate media reports had earlier reported his suspension over allegations of bribery and compromising prosecutions.
The petition demands disclosure of Chime’s role, the witnesses he contacted, the evidence he selected or excluded, his communications with the nominal complainant and why he allegedly continued appearing around the proceedings after he was dismissed by the EFCC.
A case allegedly shaped by an official reportedly dismissed following bribery and case sabotage findings must be independently reopened and not mechanically continued.
Investigate the Alleged Property Grab Conspiracy
The EFCC must now establish:
Does Amina Musa Usman exist?
How did Colleen Mero Yesufu obtain her alleged title?
What did Kabiru Yaro lawfully acquire and transfer?
What roles did Abdulrahman Yesufu and Samuel Chime allegedly play?
Why did the forfeiture process reportedly seek the property for Colleen Mero Yesufu’s benefit?
And who else expected to receive or share the house and its proceeds?
Rebecca paid for the property. Rebecca built the house. Rebecca occupied it with her family.
She must not remain prosecuted while an alleged plan to seize her home for the benefit of Colleen Mero Yesufu and distribute its value among other private interests escapes equal scrutiny.
The EFCC must investigate the alleged conspiracy, not permit its authority to become the instrument through which Rebecca Godwin-Isaac’s family house is seized and its proceeds shared.