Police arrest FCTA Director over alleged forgery

Acting on the order of an Abuja High Court, the Nigeria police have arrested Mr Joseph Eriki, the Director of Investigation and Prosecution of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA),

Eriki was arrested alongside another person, Mr Boniface Agwu.

The duo are 1st and 3rd defendants in a criminal charge filed against them by the federal government on an alleged criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass and forgery.

Other defendants in the case are at large.

Justice Suleiman Belgore of the FCT high court sitting in Garki division had on 27th May issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendants for their arraignment on a 9-count charge of alleged land grabbing.

The Prosecutor, David Kaswe had told the court that the defendants were on administrative bail and had been duly informed of the charges against them but that all efforts to bring them to court had been abortive.

At the next adjourned date on June 4th, counsel for the 1st, 2nd 3rd, 5th and 9th defendants, C.S. Ekeocha and E.E. Apeh promised to produce the defendants for arraignment.

Justice Belgore restated his earlier order for the arrest of the defendants despite the promise given by some of the counsel.

After four consecutive adjournments, the court fixed October 30th for their arraignment.

The police have now arrested Mr Eriki and Mr Agwu in the FCT, currently in custody and will remain there till October 30 for their arraignment.

Others charged alongside the FCTA director are Boniface Agwu; Ikechukwu Kanu; Donatec Electrical Company Limited; Super Structure Limited; Weatherfield Engineering; Marine Service Limited; Asher Information Services Limited; Prince Isaac Omoluwa; Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi and Sarajo Aliyu, Ogbole Michael.

The defendants were alleged to have unlawfully entered Plot 461 – 470 and 486-496 belonging to Etha Ventures and put up structures with the intention of defrauding Etha Ventures.

According to the prosecution, to actualise their intent, the defendants fraudulently secured a consent judgment in suit number FCT/HC/CV/240/2018 that gave the title of Plot 1406 (461-470 and 486-496) Sabon Lugbe East Layout, Abuja to Super Structures Limited.

Police arrest FCTA Director over alleged forgery