“He Paraded Fake Documents” — Court Jails FCDA Staff Seven Years For Defrauding Abuja Land Buyer

The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has convicted a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Kinsley Eselebor, on five counts of fraud and the use of forged documents in connection with the sale of two plots of land in Kubwa, Abuja.

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 imposed seven years’ imprisonment on each of counts one, two and three, and two years’ imprisonment on each of counts four and five, bringing the cumulative sentences to 25 years.

However, the judge ordered that the sentences run concurrently, without an option of fine. Consequently, the effective custodial term is seven years, rather than 25 years.

Eselebor, who worked in the Urban and Regional Planning Department of the FCDA, was prosecuted for defrauding a land buyer, Moses Osinachi, through the use of documents presented as genuine title documents for two plots of land in Abuja.

The properties, identified as Plots 383 and 424 in Kubwa District Central Annex, were offered to Osinachi despite Eselebor having no valid title to transfer to him.

During the trial, the court heard that Eselebor and Osinachi were neighbours and attended the same church, a relationship that contributed to the complainant’s confidence in the transaction.

Eselebor’s employment with the FCDA also influenced Osinachi’s decision to proceed with the purchase, as he believed the defendant possessed the professional knowledge and institutional connections necessary to facilitate a legitimate land transaction.

According to evidence presented by the prosecution, Eselebor produced two conveyance documents bearing the names Yusuf Lawan and Adegoke Asiwaju to convince Osinachi that the plots were genuine and available for sale.

When the complainant sought further confirmation of the documents’ authenticity, Eselebor assured him that they were valid, relying on his position as an employee of the FCDA.

Following those assurances, Osinachi transferred money from his company, Moscow International Services Limited, to Eselebor as payment for the two plots.

However, the transaction became problematic when Osinachi attempted to take possession of the properties and discovered that Eselebor had no valid title to transfer.

When confronted over the development, Eselebor was said to have admitted that he knew the plots were subject to competing claims.

He subsequently promised to provide alternative plots to the complainant but failed to fulfil the undertaking.

Osinachi later demanded a refund of the money paid for the properties, but the dispute remained unresolved as Eselebor’s explanations concerning the transaction continued to change.

The complainant eventually petitioned the EFCC, prompting an investigation into the alleged fraudulent land transaction.

Following its investigation, the anti-graft agency instituted criminal proceedings against Eselebor.

The prosecution initially filed a three-count charge in March 2021, accusing him of obtaining money under false pretences.

The charge was subsequently amended to five counts, with two additional allegations relating to the use of forged documents as genuine.

At the conclusion of the trial, Justice Musa found the defendant guilty on all five counts and imposed the respective custodial sentences without an option of fine.

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 the convicted FCDA employee had used his official position to gain the confidence of the complainant.

“This judgment has served as a deterrent to all these land racketeering, you know, these fraudsters, parading fake documents, defrauding unsuspecting victims,” he said.

The prosecutor maintained that the involvement of a government employee in such a transaction raised serious concerns about public trust and the integrity of land administration.

“In this case, the defendant is a staff of FCDA. He paraded fake documents. And the court was also not happy with that attitude. Where is the trust? Yes, where is the trust? That means you are not safe, I’m not safe,” Saidi added.

The conviction brings to a close the trial arising from the land transaction, which was first brought before the court in March 2021.

Post Title: “He Paraded Fake Documents” — Court Jails FCDA Staff Seven Years For Defrauding Abuja Land Buyer By Papers Nigeria.