Breaking: Court Orders Arrest Of FCTA Director And 11 Others In Major Probe

A High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued bench warrants for the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Joseph Eriki, a Director in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), along with 11 others.

The warrants followed the defendants’ failure to appear in court to face charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, forgery, and the use of forged documents related to landed property in Abuja.

The federal government is the sole plaintiff, while the defendants—numbered 1 to 12—include Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Joseph Eriki, Super Structure Ltd, Bonatec Electrical Company Ltd, Weatherfield Engineering, Marine Service Limited, Asher Information Services Ltd, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, Suraju Aliyu, and Ogbole Michael.

Justice Suleiman Belgore, who issued the warrants on Tuesday, directed security agencies to apprehend the defendants wherever they may be found nationwide and bring them before the court to face trial for land grabbing offenses.

During proceedings, federal government counsel David Kaswe informed the court that the defendants were on administrative bail and had been duly notified of the charges but had failed to appear despite repeated efforts. None could be located at the addresses they provided.

Invoking Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Kaswe requested the bench warrants as a last resort to secure their presence in court.

In a supporting four-paragraph affidavit, Kaswe stated the defendants were arrested on allegations including criminal conspiracy, trespass, forgery, use of forged documents, obstruction of public servants, wrongful restraint, and causing bodily harm. Investigations were completed before charges were filed, establishing a prima facie case.

The prosecution further alleged that defendants one through nine unlawfully trespassed on plots 461-470 and 486-496, owned by Etha Ventures Ltd., erecting structures to defraud the company.