FCTA Director Joseph Eriki, 11 Others To Face Land Fraud Trial June 23

An FCT High Court sitting in Garki has fixed June 23 for the arraignment of Joseph Eriki, the Director of Investigations and Prosecution at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), alongside 11 other individuals and five companies, over alleged involvement in a multi-plot land fraud.

Justice Suleiman Belgore gave the ruling on Wednesday following the inability of the Federal Government to enforce a bench warrant earlier issued for the arrest and production of the defendants.

The order was initially made on May 27 after they failed to appear before the court for arraignment.

The other accused individuals are Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, Surajo Aliyu, and Ogbole Michael. The implicated companies include Super Structure Limited, Bonatec Electrical Company Limited, Weatherfield Engineering Marine Services Limited, and Asher Information Services Limited.

At the resumed proceedings on Wednesday, prosecuting counsel Mr. David Kaswe informed the court that security agencies were yet to execute the bench warrant, as efforts to apprehend the defendants had not succeeded.

He requested additional time for enforcement.

Though the defendants were absent from court, their legal representatives were present. Mr. C.S. Ekeocha, who appeared for the 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 9th defendants, contested the bench warrant, arguing that his clients had not been served the charge before being declared wanted.

He confirmed filing an application to set aside the arrest order and a separate motion for bail upon arraignment.

Similarly, counsel to the 3rd defendant, Mr. E.E. Apeh, submitted that he had also filed motions seeking to vacate the bench warrant and requested the court to hear them before further action.

However, the prosecution opposed the motions, insisting that the defendants willfully ignored court summons.

In his ruling, Justice Belgore noted that the defence counsel’s submissions confirmed that their clients are aware of the charges and the court’s order.

He therefore directed all defence lawyers to ensure that their clients are present at the next hearing to enable the court to formally arraign them on the nine-count charge.

The defendants are accused of conspiring to defraud Etha Ventures Limited of plots 461–470 and 486–496 in Sabon Lugbe East Layout, Abuja. The charges include conspiracy, forgery, and presenting false documents to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.

According to the Federal Government, the alleged offences were committed between 2019 and 2024.

The alleged offences violate Section 366 of the Penal Code Act, 2009, and are punishable under Section 364 of the same legislation.

FCTA Director Joseph Eriki, 11 Others To Face Land Fraud Trial June 23 is first published on The Whistler Newspaper