The police have arrested Joseph Eriki, Director of Investigation and Prosecution at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in connection with a major land fraud case in Abuja.
Eriki was apprehended alongside Boniface Agwu and is currently in police custody pending arraignment. They face charges including criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, and forgery. Authorities say several other suspects remain at large.
The pair are among a group of individuals charged in the case, including 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 are accused of unlawfully entering and developing plots 461–470 and 486–496, belonging to Etha Ventures, with the intention to defraud the rightful owners.
Prosecutors allege the group fraudulently obtained a consent judgment in suit number FCT/HC/CV/240/2018, which transferred the title of Plot 1406—covering the disputed plots in Sabon Lugbe East Layout, Abuja—to Super Structure Limited.
Justice Suleiman Belgore of the FCT High Court, Garki, had issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendants on May 27 after repeated failures to appear in court. The defendants had previously been granted administrative bail, but failed to honour court summons despite four adjournments.
Prosecution counsel David Kaswe informed the court that efforts to secure the appearance of the accused had been unsuccessful. Justice Belgore has now fixed October 30 for the definite arraignment of all defendants.
