ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has convicted a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Kinsley Eselebor, imposing cumulative prison sentences of 25 years.
Eselebor was convicted for defrauding a land buyer with false pretences and forged documents.
Justice A.O. Musa delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, after finding Eselebor guilty on all five counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court imposed seven years’ imprisonment each on counts one, two and three, and two years each on counts four and five, without an option of fine.
However, the judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning they are served at the same time rather than one after another.
The longest individual term is seven years.
Two Kubwa Plots at the Centre of the Fraud by Eselebor
The prosecution established that Eselebor, who worked in the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, defrauded Moses Osinachi of money paid for two plots of land at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja.
The properties, identified as Plots 383 and 424, were presented to Osinachi as genuine, although Eselebor had no valid title to transfer ownership to him.
According to evidence presented in court, the two men were neighbours and worshipped at the same church.
Their personal 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 support his claims that the plots were legitimate.
When Osinachi sought further confirmation of the documents, Eselebor allegedly assured him that they were genuine, relying on his position within the government agency.
Acting on those assurances, Osinachi transferred money from the account of his company, Moscow International Services Limited, to Eselebor for the purchase of the two plots.
Land Dispute Uncovers Lack of Valid Title
The transaction reportedly unravelled when Osinachi attempted to take possession of the properties and discovered that Eselebor had no valid title to transfer.
When confronted, Eselebor reportedly acknowledged that the plots had rival claimants and promised to secure alternative properties for the buyer.
That promise was not fulfilled.
Osinachi subsequently demanded a refund, but the dispute remained unresolved as the explanations he received reportedly changed.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, he petitioned the EFCC, which investigated the complaint and initiated criminal proceedings against the FCDA employee.
The case was initially filed in March 2021 with three counts relating to obtaining money under false pretences.
The charge was later amended to five counts, with counts four and five addressing the use of forged documents as genuine.
Court Convicts Eselebor on All Five Counts
After considering the evidence, Justice Musa found Eselebor guilty on all five counts and imposed the respective prison terms.
The sentences were ordered to run concurrently and without an option of fine.
Although the cumulative terms total 25 years, the concurrent order means the individual sentences overlap.
The longest individual term imposed is seven years, rather than 25 years to be served consecutively.
The ruling represents the conclusion of the trial at the High Court level.
The available reports reviewed for this story did not establish whether Eselebor intends to appeal.
EFCC Says Judgment Should Deter Land Fraud
Reacting to the judgment, Joshua Saidi, the EFCC’s Director of Criminal Litigation and prosecution counsel hsiled the verdict.
Saidi described the conviction as a warning to people involved in land racketeering and the use of forged documents to deceive property buyers.
Saidi expressed concern that the position of Eselebor as an FCDA employee had reportedly helped him gain the victim’s trust.
“This judgment has served as a deterrent to all these land racketeering, you know, these fraudsters, parading fake documents, defrauding unsuspecting victims,” Saidi said.
He added that the court was concerned about the breach of trust associated with the case.
This is particularly so because the convict worked for a government agency connected with development planning.
Saidi said the conviction should serve as a deterrent to others who might seek to exploit public confidence or official positions to facilitate fraudulent transactions.
Eselebor: Warning for Abuja Property Buyers
The Eselebor case highlights the risks associated with buying land based solely on personal relationships, verbal assurances or documents presented by a seller claiming official knowledge.
Prospective buyers are advised to conduct independent searches through the appropriate land administration authorities.
They must verify the seller’s legal authority to transfer ownership and consult a qualified property lawyer before transferring funds.
An official position or apparent familiarity with government land administration procedures should not replace independent verification of title documents.
The conviction also underscores the importance of accountability where alleged land fraud involves individuals employed by public institutions.
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