The Nigeria Police Force has taken Mr. Joseph Eriki, Director of Investigation and Prosecution at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), into custody following an order issued by an Abuja High Court.
He was arrested along with Mr. Boniface Agwu. Both men are listed as the 1st and 3rd defendants in a criminal case filed by the federal government. The charges include criminal conspiracy, trespass, and forgery.
Some co-defendants have not yet been located.
Justice Suleiman Belgore of the FCT High Court, Garki division, signed a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendants on the 27th of May, The order was aimed at securing their presence for a 9-count charge tied to a land dispute.
Prosecuting counsel David Kaswe told the court that the accused had been released earlier on administrative bail and had received information about the charges. Still, efforts to get them to appear before the court failed.
On the 4th of June during a court session, lawyers representing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 9th defendants C.S. Ekeocha and E.E. Apeh told the court they would present their clients for arraignment.
Despite these assurances, Justice Belgore insisted on his earlier arrest order.
After four missed court dates, the 30th of October , was set for arraignment.
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Police have now confirmed the arrest of Mr. Eriki and Mr. Agwu. Both men are being held in custody and are expected to remain there until the scheduled court date.
The full list of defendants includes Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Donatec Electrical Company Limited, Super Structure Limited, Weatherfield Engineering, Marine Service Limited, Asher Information Services Limited, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, and Sarajo Aliyu, Ogbole Michael.
They are accused of forcefully occupying plots 461 -470 and 486 -496, which belong to Etha Ventures, and erecting structures on the site as part of a fraudulent scheme.
The prosecution claims the defendants used forged documents to obtain a consent judgment in case number FCT/HC/CV/240/2018, which awarded ownership of Plot 1406 (covering Plots 461-470 and 486-496) in Sabon Lugbe East Layout, Abuja, to Super Structures Limited.