A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja has sentenced a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Kinsley Eselebor, to 25 years’ imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences and using forged documents in a land transaction.
Justice A.O. Musa delivered the judgment on Wednesday after finding Eselebor guilty on all five counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court imposed seven-year prison terms on each of the first three counts and two years each on counts four and five, without an option of fine. The judge ordered the sentences to run concurrently, meaning the defendant will serve them at the same time.
The prosecution told the court that Eselebor, who worked in the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, defrauded Moses Osinachi in a transaction involving two plots of land at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja.
The plots, identified as Plots 383 and 424, were allegedly presented as legitimate properties available for purchase. However, the prosecution established that Eselebor had no valid title to transfer to the buyer.
Evidence showed that Osinachi and Eselebor were neighbours and attended the same church. Their relationship and Eselebor’s employment with the FCDA reportedly helped build the buyer’s confidence in the transaction.
Eselebor presented conveyance documents bearing the names Yusuf Lawan and Adegoke Asiwaju to support his claim to the properties. Osinachi subsequently transferred money from the account of his company, Moscow International Services Limited, to pay for the plots.
The alleged fraud came to light when Osinachi attempted to take possession of the land and discovered that Eselebor lacked valid title to it. Eselebor reportedly acknowledged that the properties had rival claimants and promised to provide alternative plots, but the promise was not fulfilled.
Osinachi later petitioned the EFCC, which investigated the matter and prosecuted the FCDA employee.
Reacting to the judgment, EFCC Director of Criminal Litigation and prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi, said the conviction should deter land racketeering and the use of forged documents to defraud property buyers.
Deborah Adeyefa
