The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested a senior official of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Joseph Eriki, over his alleged involvement in a massive land fraud scheme in Abuja.
Eriki, who serves as the Director of Investigation and Prosecution at the FCTA, was apprehended alongside Boniface Agwu, a representative of one of the implicated companies.
Both suspects are currently in custody and awaiting arraignment on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, trespass, and forgery.
Police authorities confirmed that other suspects in the case are still at large.
The duo, along with several individuals and companies, were accused of illegally entering and developing lands belonging to Etha Ventures — specifically Plots 461–470 and 486–496, located in the Sabon Lugbe East Layout of Abuja.
According to the prosecution, the suspects fraudulently obtained a consent judgment in Suit No: FCT/HC/CV/240/2018 to transfer the title of the disputed plots to Super Structures Limited, one of the firms allegedly used in the land scam.
Other accused persons include Ikechukwu Kanu, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, Sarajo Aliyu, Ogbole Michael, and companies such as Donatec Electrical Company Limited, Weatherfield Engineering, Marine Service Limited, and Asher Information Services Limited.
Justice Suleiman Belgore of the FCT High Court, Garki, had on May 27 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of all the defendants following their repeated failure to appear in court for arraignment on a nine-count charge filed against them.
During a recent hearing, the prosecution counsel, David Kaswe, told the court that despite being granted administrative bail and duly informed of the charges, the defendants had evaded court appearances.
Defence counsels, C.S. Ekeocha and E.E. Apeh, had previously assured the court on June 4 that their clients would attend subsequent hearings, but they failed to do so.
Justice Belgore, citing consistent adjournments and non-compliance, reaffirmed his order for the defendants’ arrest and fixed October 30 for definite arraignment.
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