An Abuja High Court has sentenced Kinsley Eselebor, a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), to 25 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a land buyer with forged documents.
Justice A.O. Musa delivered the judgment on Wednesday after finding Eselebor guilty of all five counts filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court imposed seven years’ imprisonment on counts one, two and three, and two years on counts four and five. The sentences are to run concurrently, without the option of a fine.
Eselebor worked in the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning and was accused of defrauding Moses Osinachi of money paid for two plots of land at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja.
The plots, identified as 383 and 424, were presented to Osinachi as genuine properties, although Eselebor had no valid title to transfer to him.
How FCDA Staff Defrauded Land Buyer
Evidence presented in court showed that Osinachi and Eselebor were neighbours and attended the same church.
Their relationship, combined with Eselebor’s employment at the FCDA, reportedly strengthened Osinachi’s confidence in the transaction.
The court heard that Eselebor presented two conveyance documents bearing the names Yusuf Lawan and Adegoke Asiwaju to convince the buyer that the properties were genuine.
When Osinachi sought further verification, Eselebor allegedly assured him that the documents were authentic, citing his position as an FCDA staff member.
Relying on those assurances, Osinachi transferred money from his company, Moscow International Services Limited, to Eselebor for the purchase of the plots.
However, the transaction ran into difficulty when Osinachi attempted to take possession of the properties and discovered that Eselebor had no valid title to transfer.
When confronted, Eselebor reportedly admitted that he knew the plots had rival claimants and promised to provide alternative properties. He subsequently failed to fulfil that promise.
Osinachi later demanded a refund, but the dispute remained unresolved as Eselebor’s explanations allegedly continued to change.
The buyer eventually petitioned the EFCC, which investigated the complaint and prosecuted the FCDA staff member.
EFCC Amended Charges To Five Counts
The EFCC initially filed the case in March 2021 with three counts of obtaining money under false pretences.
The charges were later amended to five counts, including allegations relating to the use of forged documents as genuine.
Following the trial, the court found Eselebor guilty on all five counts and imposed the prison sentences.
EFCC Says Judgment Will Deter Land Fraud
Reacting to the judgment, Joshua Saidi, the EFCC’s Director of Criminal Litigation and prosecution counsel, said the conviction would serve as a deterrent to land racketeering and the use of forged documents to defraud property buyers.
Saidi expressed concern that Eselebor had allegedly exploited his position at the FCDA to gain the buyer’s trust.
“This judgment has served as a deterrent to all these land racketeering, you know, these fraudsters, parading fake documents, defrauding unsuspecting victims,” he said.
“In this case, the defendant is a staff of FCDA. He paraded fake documents. And the court was also not happy with that attitude. Where is the trust? Yes, where is the trust? That means you are not safe, I’m not safe.”
The conviction highlights the risks property buyers face when dealing with questionable land documents and reinforces the importance of verifying ownership and title records with the relevant authorities before completing property transactions.
