Court Sentences FCDA Staff 25 Years for Land Fraud in Abuja
A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has sentenced a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Kinsley Eselebor, to 25 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a land buyer with forged documents.
Justice A.O. Musa delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after finding Eselebor guilty of all five counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment each on counts one, two and three, and two years each on counts four and five. All the sentences are to run concurrently without an option of fine.
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 plots, identified as Plots 383 and 424, were presented to Osinachi as genuine properties, although Eselebor had no valid title to transfer ownership to him.
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 the additional charges relating to the use of forged documents as genuine to facilitate the transaction.
According to evidence presented before the court, Osinachi and Eselebor were neighbours and worshipped at the same church. Their relationship, alongside Eselebor’s position as an FCDA employee, reportedly gave the victim confidence in the transaction.
The court heard that Eselebor presented two conveyance documents bearing the names Yusuf Lawan and Adegoke Asiwaju to convince Osinachi that the properties were genuine.
Despite seeking further confirmation of the documents’ authenticity, Osinachi was allegedly reassured by Eselebor, who relied on his position within the FCDA to support his claims.
Following the assurances, Osinachi transferred money from 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 plots had rival claimants and promised to provide alternative properties. However, he failed to fulfil the promise.
Efforts by Osinachi to recover his money were unsuccessful, as the explanations provided by Eselebor reportedly continued to change. The victim subsequently petitioned the EFCC, which investigated the matter and arraigned the defendant.
Reacting to the judgment, the EFCC’s Director of Criminal Litigation and prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi, described the conviction as a warning to individuals involved in land racketeering and the use of forged documents to defraud unsuspecting property buyers.
Saidi expressed concern that Eselebor’s position as an FCDA employee had allegedly been used to create confidence in the fraudulent transaction.
He said the judgment should serve as a deterrent to fraudsters who exploit public trust to deceive property buyers.
According to him, the case highlights the dangers of relying on fake land documents, even when they are presented by individuals working in government institutions.
Saidi added that the conviction demonstrated that there was no benefit in engaging in fraud and that the defendant might have continued defrauding others if the case had not been pursued.
