An Abuja High Court has sentenced a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Kinsley Eselebor, to 25 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a land buyer with false representations and forged documents.
Justice A.O. Musa of the FCT 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. The sentences are to run concurrently, without an option of fine.
The prosecution established that Eselebor, an employee of the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, obtained money from Moses Osinachi for the purchase of two plots of land, identified as Plots 383 and 424, at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja, despite lacking valid title to the properties.
The case, initially filed in March 2021 with three counts of obtaining money under false pretences, was later amended to five counts. The additional charges included using forged documents as genuine to convince the buyer that the properties were authentic.
Evidence before the court showed that Osinachi and Eselebor were neighbours and attended the same church. Their relationship, alongside Eselebor’s position as an FCDA employee, reportedly strengthened the buyer’s confidence in the transaction.
The court heard that Eselebor presented two conveyance documents bearing the names Yusuf Lawan and Adegoke Asiwaju to support his claims of ownership.
Despite seeking further confirmation of the documents’ authenticity, Osinachi was allegedly 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 the convict for the two plots.
The transaction subsequently ran into difficulties when Osinachi attempted to take possession of the land 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. However, the promise was not fulfilled.
Repeated demands for a refund also failed to resolve the dispute, prompting Osinachi to petition the EFCC. The commission investigated the allegations before prosecuting Eselebor.
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 Eselebor’s position as an FCDA employee had allegedly helped him gain the victim’s trust.
He said the judgment underscored the need to protect public confidence in property transactions, particularly where government officials are accused of exploiting their positions to facilitate fraud.
According to him, the conviction should serve as a deterrent to those who use fake documents to deceive land buyers, adding that the case demonstrated the consequences of fraudulent dealings.
Saidi maintained that the prosecution and conviction would help reinforce accountability and discourage the misuse of public office in land transactions.
