- Safiu Kehinde
Joseph Eriki, the Director of Investigation and Prosecution of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has been arrested by the police over alleged land fraud.
Eriki was arrested alongside Boniface Agwu and are currently in custody until their arraignment for criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass and forgery.
The FCTA Director and Agwu were charged alongside 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.
They 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 Counsel, Davis Kaswe, the defendants had, in an effort to actualise their intent, fraudulently secured a consent judgment in suit number FCT/HC/CV/240/2018 given the title of Plot 1406 (461-470 and 486-496) Sabon Lugbe East Layout, Abuja to Super Structures Limited.
Prior to their arrest, Justice Suleiman Belgore of a FCT high court Garki had on May 27 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendants so that they could appear in court for their arraignment on a 9-count charge of alleged land grabbing.
The Prosecution counsel had told the court that the defendants were on administrative bail.
He added and had been duly informed of the charges against them and that all efforts to bring them to court had been abortive.
On June 4, defence counsel, C.S. Ekeocha and E.E. Apeh promised to produce his clients for arraignment.
Justice Belgore restated his earlier order for the arrest of the defendants despite the promises given by some of the counsel.
After four consecutive adjournments, Justice Belgore fixed 30th of October for definite arraignment.