DSS Detains Retired Assistant Commissioner Of Police Over N80million Property Fraud

The Department of State Services has detained a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Sheriff, in connection with an alleged fraud involving N80million worth of landed properties.

It reported that Rabiu while serving as the Chief Security Officer of Murtala Nyako, former governor of Adamawa State, bought landed properties for Sebore Farms, on his principal’s (Nyako) instruction.

Rabiu allegedly converted the properties to his personal use and also sold it two months after Nyako was impeached in July 2014 by the state Assembly, led by the current governor, Umaru Fintiri.

A document obtained from Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) revealed the identity of directors at Sebore Farms as follows; (1) Abdul Aziz Murtala H. Nyako, (2) Hajiya Binta H. Nyako, (3) Vice Admiral Murtala H. Nyako (Rtrd) and (4) Muhammad Murtala H. Nyako.

The landed properties consisted of two separate houses, located in the highbrow neighbourhoods of Dougirei and Old GRA (Government Reserved Area), in Yola, the state capital.

The said property is covered by Certificate of Occupancy (COC) ADS/LAN/26893/ADS/12656 and GS/LAN2122/GS/549.

Two different law firms in two separate complaints written to the police and DSS on behalf of Sebore Farms said Rabiu purchased the properties for Sebore Farms and later converted same to personal properties.

According to SaharaReporters, the complaint letter read in parts, “Sometimes in 2013, our client entrusted one Mr Rabiu A. Sheriff as an agent to buy some landed properties and perfect title in its favour.

“Mr Rabiu Sheriff collected our client’s money at N80million only, paid for the properties and sale(s) agreement to that effect was prepared by his chosen solicitors for onward delivery to our client for execution.

“Mr Rabiu took the documents and fraudulently impersonated and signed as the Managing Director of our client and again signed as a witness.

“Our investigation further revealed that Mr Rabiu returned to the same solicitor and lied to him that he had the instruction of our client to change the sale(s) agreement in the name of Ashran Nigeria Limited.

“Our preliminary investigation revealed that Mr Rabiu is the owner (of) the said company (Ashran Nigeria Limited).

“Without hesitation (he) went ahead and perfected the title to that effect.”

A further report had it that Rabiu during investigation stated that former Governor Nyako who gave him money for the properties instructed him to do as he did.

To conclude the police investigation, a preliminary report submitted to the commissioner, recommended that former Governor Nyako needed to clarify claims made by his former CSO.

Sebore Farms which was not pleased with the recommendation engaged another law firm to petition the DSS which arrested and detained ACP Rabiu on Friday.

The defence counsel to Rabiu, Gabriel Adiku, who protested the arrest and subsequent detention of his client while arguing that the matter was civil, on Monday withdrew his legal services.

He reportedly stated that he was withdrawing from the case because his client (Rabiu) leaked documents to journalists.

A source said the firm, Sebore, needed to clear some grey areas.

The source said, “Looking at the issues, questions were raised as to why Rabiu used as an agent to purchase landed property as a police officer in the first place? Why was he entrusted with N80million when Sebore Farms had its Managing Director at the time, which the petition claimed he (Rabiu) impersonated?

“Also, why is the matter coming up some seven to eight years, after the said transaction was done? How was the said money delivered from Sebore Farms to Rabiu, was it from Sebore Farm’s bank account or cash and why? These and other salient questions need to be answered by Sebore Farms.”