News

79-Year-Old Woman Petitions Tinubu Over Alleged Land Fraud, Police Complicity

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedJune 17, 2025

A 79-year-old grandmother, Hajia Colleen Mero Yesufu, has petitioned President Bola Tinubu over an alleged plot to dispossess her of family lands in Abuja through forgery and fraudulent transactions, which she claims are being covered up by the police.

In the petition dated June 10, 2025, Mero accused the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, of shielding suspects involved in the alleged illegal sale of her properties at Plot 4022 in Guzape and Plots 1861, 1862, and 1863 in Katampe District, all within the Federal Capital Territory.

She identified a woman, Ms. Omokamo, as the alleged mastermind of the fraud, accusing her of criminal conspiracy and document forgery, despite what Mero described as several indicting reports by government agencies.

According to the petitioner, the issue goes beyond land ownership and touches on the protection of her family’s legacy and lifelong savings.

“For too long, I have endured a continuous battle against grave criminality by people who have stolen, oppressed, and brazenly attempted to intimidate me for insisting on my constitutional rights,” Mero wrote.

She said she initially dismissed claims of presidential connections by the accused as mere intimidation but grew concerned following Omokamo’s visit to the Presidential Villa and her inclusion in the president’s delegation to Qatar in 2024.

“These actions suggest an abuse of whatever privilege she or her associates believe they enjoy around your office,” she said.

Mero also faulted an open letter written by the accused to President Tinubu, where she claimed to be honest and God-fearing. She insisted the claims were contradicted by “overwhelming and irrefutable evidence” from investigations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

She alleged that the suspect had been using multiple identities, switching names from Rebecca Omokamo to Bilikisu Ishaku Aliyu, in what she said was a calculated fraud.

“Regarding her alleged name change… it does not absolve her of the criminal charges of forgery and fraud,” Mero said.

“The EFCC’s concern, as I understand it, pertains to the fraudulent use of different identities in the commission of crimes, not merely a change of name or faith.”

Mero expressed disappointment over what she described as silence from the presidency despite a directive in July 2024 from Tinubu’s Principal Secretary, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, ordering EFCC and FCTA to promptly investigate Omokamo’s actions.

“This inaction or silence, after such compelling findings have been submitted to your revered office, deepens the injustice and encourages impunity,” she concluded.

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.