A Federal Capital Development Authority staff member, Kinsley Eselebor, has been sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a land buyer of money using forged documents to sell plots in Abuja.
Justice A.O. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, convicted Eselebor on five counts of obtaining money under false pretences and using forged documents, following his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the court sentenced Eselebor to seven years each on counts one, two and three, and two years each on counts four and five.
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The sentences are to run concurrently, without an option of fine.
The court found 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, identified as Plots 383 and 424, at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja.
According to the prosecution, Eselebor presented the plots as genuine despite having no valid title to sell them.
The charge was initially filed in March 2021 with three counts of obtaining money under false pretences but was later amended to five counts to include allegations of using forged documents as genuine.
Evidence before the court showed that Osinachi and Eselebor were neighbours and worshipped at the same church. Their relationship, alongside Eselebor’s position as an FCDA employee, reportedly strengthened the buyer’s confidence in the transaction.
The court heard that Eselebor used two conveyance documents bearing the names Yusuf Lawan and Adegoke Asiwaju to convince Osinachi that the properties were genuine.
When Osinachi sought further confirmation, Eselebor allegedly assured him that the documents were authentic, relying on his position within the FCDA.
The buyer subsequently transferred money from his company, Moscow International Services Limited, to Eselebor for the purchase of the two plots.
However, when Osinachi attempted to take possession of the properties, he discovered that Eselebor had no valid title to transfer to him.
When confronted, Eselebor reportedly admitted knowing that the plots had rival claimants and promised to provide alternative land. The promise was not fulfilled.
Osinachi later demanded a refund, but the dispute remained unresolved, prompting him to petition the EFCC, which investigated the matter and prosecuted Eselebor.
Reacting to the judgment, the EFCC’s Director of Criminal Litigation and prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi, said the conviction should serve as a deterrent to land racketeers and individuals who use forged documents to defraud property buyers.
Saidi expressed concern that Eselebor’s position as an FCDA employee had allegedly 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,” he said.
He added that the case highlighted the damage that alleged misconduct by public officials could cause to public confidence in government institutions.
Saidi said the conviction demonstrated that fraud would attract consequences and could prevent others from engaging in similar practices.
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