Abuja Court Orders Arrest of FCTA Director Over Alleged Multi-Plot Land Fraud

A High Court in Garki, Abuja, presided over by Justice Suleiman Belgore, on Tuesday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the Director of Investigations and Prosecution at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Joseph Eriki. The order was issued following his failure to appear in court to respond to serious allegations involving a multi-plot land fraud scheme in the Sabon Lugbe area of Abuja.

Mr. Eriki, alongside 11 other co-defendants—including individuals and corporate entities—is facing a nine-count charge brought against them by the Federal Government. The charges center around a conspiracy to defraud Etha Ventures Limited of valuable real estate assets between 2019 and 2024. The plots in question, numbered 461 to 470 and 486 to 496, are located in the East Layout of Sabon Lugbe, a rapidly developing area of the Federal Capital Territory.

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According to the charge sheet, the Federal Government accuses Eriki and his co-defendants of criminal conspiracy, forgery, and using false documents to unlawfully acquire the land. These alleged acts violate Section 366 of the Penal Code, 2009, and are punishable under Section 364 of the same code. Prosecutors say the forged documents were submitted to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation in a calculated attempt to legitimize the fraudulent land transfers.

In addition to Mr. Eriki, other individuals named in the case include Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, Surajo Aliyu, and Ogbole Michael. The corporate defendants are Super Structure Limited, Bonatec Electrical Company Limited, Weatherfield Engineering Marine Services Limited, and Asher Information Services Limited.

During Tuesday’s hearing, government prosecutor David Kaswe informed the court that although the defendants had previously been granted administrative bail and were made aware of the pending charges, they had repeatedly failed to honor court invitations. “All efforts to ensure the appearance of the defendants for their arraignment have proved futile,” Kaswe said. He consequently urged the court to issue a bench warrant in accordance with Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which empowers judges to compel the attendance of absconding defendants.

Justice Belgore, in granting the request, expressed concern over the continuous absence of the accused and the apparent disregard for legal processes. “This court cannot overlook the blatant non-compliance of the defendants. Their failure to appear constitutes a clear attempt to delay or obstruct justice,” the judge remarked.

He ordered that all defendants be arrested and produced before the court on June 4, the new date set for their arraignment. The judge further emphasized that justice must not be derailed by deliberate evasion of court proceedings and vowed to treat the matter with the urgency it demands.

Legal experts have since reacted to the development, noting the seriousness of land-related fraud in the Federal Capital Territory. Abuja’s rapid urbanization has made land a highly contested and politicized asset, often leading to cases of double allocation, document forgery, and illegal land grabbing. Analysts argue that this case could serve as a litmus test for the Nigerian judiciary’s resolve to clamp down on high-profile land fraud.

The involvement of a senior FCTA official has added to public concern, raising questions about systemic integrity within key government institutions responsible for land administration. If proven, the allegations against Eriki would reflect a disturbing trend of internal collusion in fraudulent land allocations, which has long undermined transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s urban planning processes.

Meanwhile, Etha Ventures Limited, the alleged victim in the case, has yet to issue a public statement. However, sources close to the company disclosed that it has been engaged in a protracted legal and administrative battle to reclaim the plots, which it asserts were lawfully acquired through appropriate channels before being illegally reassigned.

As June 4 approaches, all eyes will be on the Abuja High Court to see whether the defendants will be brought before the bench as ordered. The proceedings are expected to attract significant attention, not only due to the high-ranking nature of the accused but also because of the broader implications for land governance and institutional accountability in the capital city.