An Abuja High Court has scheduled June 23 for the arraignment of Mr. Joseph Eriki, Director of Investigations and Prosecution at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and several others over allegations of land fraud. Alongside Eriki, six individuals and five companies are listed as defendants in a case involving the fraudulent acquisition of plots of land in the Sabon Lugbe East Layout, Abuja. The court had earlier issued a bench warrant on May 27 for their arrest after they failed to appear in court.
During the latest proceedings, the prosecution, led by Mr. David Kaswe, informed the court that attempts to arrest the defendants had so far been unsuccessful. Despite their absence, the defendants were represented in court by legal counsel. Lawyers for some of the accused argued that the arrest warrants were premature, claiming their clients had not been formally served with the charges. They requested the court to set aside the bench warrant and consider bail applications.
Federal Government counsel opposed the defence’s motions, asserting that the defendants deliberately evaded court summons. Justice Suleiman Belgore, presiding over the matter, acknowledged that the defendants appeared to be aware of the charges against them. He ordered that all defendants must appear in person at the next hearing to take their pleas and warned their lawyers to ensure compliance with the court’s directive.
The Federal Government accuses the defendants of conspiracy and forgery in defrauding Etha Ventures Limited of multiple plots of land between 2019 and 2024. The charge sheet outlines that they used forged documents to illegally transfer plots numbered 461 to 470 and 486 to 496. These actions allegedly violated sections 364 and 366 of the Penal Code Act, 2009, making them liable for prosecution under Nigerian law.
