The 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 obtaining money under false pretences and using forged documents in a land transaction.
Justice A.O. Musa delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after finding Eselebor guilty on all five counts filed 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. However, all the sentences are to run concurrently, without an option of fine.
The case centred on the sale of two plots of land, identified as Plots 383 and 424, at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja, to Moses Osinachi. Eselebor, who worked in the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, allegedly presented the properties as genuine despite lacking valid title to transfer ownership to the buyer.
According to evidence presented during the trial, Osinachi and Eselebor were neighbours and worshipped at the same church. Their relationship, coupled with Eselebor’s employment with the FCDA, 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.
Despite seeking further confirmation of the documents’ authenticity, Osinachi was reportedly assured by Eselebor that the papers were genuine. Relying on the assurances, the buyer transferred money from his company’s account, Moscow International Services Limited, to pay for the two plots.
However, the transaction became contentious 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. The promise was not fulfilled.
Osinachi subsequently demanded a refund, but the dispute remained unresolved as the explanations offered by Eselebor allegedly changed. The buyer later petitioned the EFCC, which investigated the matter before prosecuting the FCDA employee.
The charge was initially filed in March 2021 with three counts relating to obtaining money under false pretences. It was subsequently amended to five counts, with the additional charges concerning the use of forged documents as genuine to establish the authenticity of the properties.
Reacting to the judgment, EFCC 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 fake documents to defraud unsuspecting buyers.
Saidi expressed concern that Eselebor’s position as an FCDA employee had allegedly helped him gain the victim’s trust.
He said the case highlighted the risks faced by property buyers when individuals associated with government institutions are accused of exploiting their positions to facilitate fraudulent land transactions.
According to the prosecution counsel, the judgment should discourage land fraud and reinforce public confidence in efforts to hold perpetrators accountable.
Saidi added that the conviction demonstrated the consequences of using forged documents to deceive property buyers, stressing that fraud should not go unpunished.
