By Ebele Ofodile
The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has sentenced a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Kinsley Eselebor, to a cumulative 25 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a land buyer through the use of forged documents.
Justice A.O. Musa delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 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, bringing the aggregate sentence to 25 years.
However, the judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently without an option of fine, meaning that the effective prison term is seven years.
Eselebor, who worked in the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, was prosecuted for defrauding Moses Osinachi of money paid for two plots of land, identified as Plots 383 and 424, at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja.
The prosecution established that Eselebor presented the properties to Osinachi as genuine, despite having no valid title to transfer ownership to him.
Evidence before the court showed that the two men were neighbours and attended the same church. Their relationship, alongside Eselebor’s employment with 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 confirmation of the documents, Eselebor allegedly assured him of their authenticity, relying on his position as an FCDA employee.
Acting on the assurances, Osinachi transferred money from the account of his company, Moscow International Services Limited, to Eselebor for the purchase of the two plots.
The fraud was uncovered when Osinachi attempted to take possession of the properties and discovered that Eselebor had no valid title to transfer.
When confronted, Eselebor reportedly admitted knowing that the properties had rival claimants and promised to provide alternative plots. However, he failed to fulfil the promise.
Osinachi subsequently demanded a refund, but efforts to recover his money proved unsuccessful, prompting him to petition the EFCC, which investigated the matter and prosecuted the defendant.
The case was initially filed in March 2021 with three counts of obtaining money under false pretences. It was later amended to five counts, with two additional charges relating to the use of forged documents as genuine.
Reacting to the judgment, the EFCC’s Director of Criminal Litigation and prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi, described the conviction as a deterrent to individuals involved in land racketeering and the use of forged documents to defraud unsuspecting property buyers.
Saidi expressed concern that Eselebor had allegedly exploited his position in the FCDA to gain the confidence of the buyer.
He said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to land racketeers and fraudsters who parade fake documents to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
He also questioned the implications of such conduct for public confidence in government institutions, particularly when public servants entrusted with responsibilities relating to land administration are implicated in fraudulent transactions.
Saidi maintained that the conviction would serve as a warning to those who use public office to facilitate fraudulent property transactions, stressing that the defendant could have defrauded more people if the case had not been pursued.
