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 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).
According to an EFCC statement signed by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Eselebor was sentenced to seven years 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 convict, who works in the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, was found to have defrauded Moses Osinachi of money paid for two plots of land, identified as Plots 383 and 424, at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja.
The prosecution established that Eselebor presented the plots as genuine despite lacking valid title to sell them. He allegedly used two conveyance documents bearing the names Yusuf Lawan and Adegoke Asiwaju to convince the buyer that the properties were legitimate.
The EFCC said Osinachi trusted Eselebor partly because they were neighbours and worshipped at the same church. His position as an FCDA employee also reportedly strengthened the buyer’s confidence in the transaction.
After seeking confirmation of the documents, Osinachi was allegedly assured by Eselebor that they were genuine. He subsequently transferred money from his company’s account, Moscow International Services Limited, to pay for the two plots.
The transaction unravelled when Osinachi attempted to take possession of the properties and discovered that Eselebor had no valid title to transfer to him.
When confronted, the convict reportedly admitted knowing that the plots had rival claimants and promised to provide alternative properties. However, the promise was not fulfilled, while repeated demands for a refund failed to resolve the matter.
Osinachi subsequently petitioned the EFCC, which investigated the allegations and arraigned Eselebor. The charge, initially filed in March 2021 with three counts of obtaining money under false pretences, was later amended to five counts to include the use of forged documents as genuine.
Reacting to the judgment, the EFCC’s Director of Criminal Litigation and prosecution counsel, Joshua Saidi, said the conviction should serve as a deterrent to individuals involved in land racketeering and the use of fake documents to defraud property buyers.
Saidi expressed concern that Eselebor’s position in a government agency had allegedly been used to build trust with the victim, warning that such conduct could undermine public confidence in property transactions.
He said the judgment demonstrated that fraud carried consequences and could prevent others from exploiting unsuspecting buyers.
