An Abuja High Court has convicted a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Kinsley Eselebor, for defrauding a land buyer with forged documents, imposing cumulative prison terms of 25 years.
Justice A.O. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court 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 sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment each on counts one, two and three, and two years each on counts four and five, without an option of fine. However, the judge ordered that all the sentences run concurrently, meaning the prison terms will be served at the same time rather than consecutively. The effective custodial term is therefore seven years.
Eselebor, who worked in the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, was prosecuted over a transaction involving two plots of land at Kubwa District Central Annex in Abuja.
The plots, identified as Plots 383 and 424, were offered to Moses Osinachi, who paid for the properties after being assured that the transaction was genuine. The prosecution established that Eselebor had no valid title to transfer to the buyer.
Evidence before the court showed that Osinachi and Eselebor were neighbours and attended the same church. Their relationship, alongside Eselebor’s employment with the FCDA, reportedly gave the buyer confidence in the transaction.
During the deal, Eselebor presented conveyance documents bearing the names Yusuf Lawan and Adegoke Asiwaju to support claims that the properties were legitimate.
When Osinachi sought confirmation of the documents, Eselebor reportedly assured him that they were genuine, relying on his position as an FCDA employee.
Acting on those assurances, Osinachi transferred money from the account of his company, Moscow International Services Limited, to Eselebor for the purchase of the two plots.
The transaction subsequently unravelled when Osinachi attempted to take possession of the properties and discovered that Eselebor had no valid title to transfer.
When confronted, Eselebor reportedly acknowledged that the plots had competing claimants and promised to provide alternative properties. However, the promise was not fulfilled.
Osinachi later demanded a refund of his money, but the dispute remained unresolved. Dissatisfied with the outcome, he petitioned the EFCC, which investigated the matter and initiated criminal proceedings.
The charge was initially filed in March 2021 with three counts relating to obtaining money under false pretences. It was later amended to five counts, adding allegations concerning the use of forged documents as genuine.
After considering the evidence, Justice Musa found Eselebor guilty on all five counts and imposed the respective prison terms.
Reacting to the judgment, Joshua Saidi, the EFCC’s Director of Criminal Litigation and prosecution counsel, said the conviction should serve as a warning to individuals involved in land racketeering and the use of forged documents to deceive property buyers.
Saidi expressed concern that Eselebor’s position within a government agency had reportedly helped him gain the buyer’s trust.
He said the judgment demonstrated the consequences of using fraudulent documents to exploit unsuspecting members of the public, particularly in property transactions where buyers rely on official knowledge and assurances to establish the legitimacy of land titles.
The case highlights the risks associated with purchasing land without independently verifying ownership and title documents through the appropriate land administration authorities.
Prospective buyers are advised to conduct proper title searches, confirm the identity and authority of sellers, and seek professional legal advice before making substantial payments for land.
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