Court Orders Arrest Of Top FCTA Director, 11 Others Over Multi-Plot Abuja Land Fraud
In a major crackdown on alleged high-level corruption, an Abuja High Court sitting in Garki has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Mr. Joseph Eriki, Director of Investigations and Prosecution at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), along with 11 co-defendants, over their suspected involvement in a multi-plot land fraud scandal.
Justice Suleiman Belgore granted the warrant on Tuesday after Eriki and the others failed to appear in court to face a nine-count charge related to the fraudulent acquisition of plots 461 to 470 and 486 to 496 in Sabon Lugbe, East Layout, Abuja.
The Federal Government alleges the defendants used forged documents to defraud Etha Ventures Limited, in a conspiracy said to have taken place between 2019 and 2024—violating sections 366 and 364 of the Penal Code.
Among those listed in the charge are individuals and companies, including Boniface Agwu, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Super Structure Limited, and Weatherfield Engineering Marine Services Limited. The accused are said to have falsified land records and presented them to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation in a calculated move to legitimize the fraud.
Government prosecutor David Kaswe revealed the defendants are on administrative bail but have deliberately avoided arraignment, prompting the court to act under Section 124 of the ACJA, 2015.
Justice Belgore ordered the immediate arrest and production of all accused persons by June 4, setting the stage for what could be a high-profile legal showdown in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against corruption in land administration.
