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.

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The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted a foreclosure order in favour of Citygate Global Investment Limited, authorising the financial services firm to take possession of and sell a mortgaged property belonging to businessman, Hyginus Eze, over an alleged unpaid loan facility of ₦150 million.

Justice Mathias O. Dawodu delivered the judgment in Suit No. ID/9743GCM/2025, ruling that Citygate Global Investment Limited had successfully established its legal right to enforce a mortgage agreement executed by the defendant in December 2024.

The court held that the company was entitled to exercise its powers under a Deed of Legal Mortgage and Memorandum of Deposit after Eze allegedly defaulted on repayment obligations tied to the facility.

According to court documents, the businessman obtained a ₦150 million loan facility from Citygate in December 2024 for a tenure of 10 months at an interest rate of four per cent.

The loan was secured with a property located at No. 4 Chidi Duru Street, formerly Eboma Street, off Havana Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos State.

Citygate told the court that the defendant was expected to repay a total sum of ₦210 million between January and October 2025 but failed to meet the agreed repayment schedule, leaving a substantial outstanding balance.

In his defence, Eze argued that he received ₦135 million rather than ₦150 million and claimed to have repaid more than ₦90 million. He also maintained that he had sought reconciliation and restructuring of the loan facility.

However, Justice Dawodu ruled that the defendant failed to provide documentary evidence to support his claims of substantial repayment.

The court held that the burden of proof rested on the borrower and that unsupported assertions contained in affidavits could not override documentary records presented by the claimant.

The judge further noted that some correspondence tendered before the court amounted to admissions of indebtedness by the defendant.

Relying on established legal principles governing mortgage transactions, the court affirmed that a mortgagee has the right to foreclose and sell a mortgaged property where a borrower defaults on repayment obligations.

Consequently, the court granted Citygate Global Investment Limited possession of the property and authorised the company to proceed with its sale.

The court, however, declined requests for a perpetual injunction against the defendant and security enforcement orders, directing both parties to bear their respective legal costs.

Following the judgment, counsel to Citygate Global Investment Limited, Adeniyi Joshua, announced that the property had effectively become the company’s asset by virtue of the court’s foreclosure order.

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