An FCT High Court convicted Kinsley Eselebor on five counts of fraud after he was found guilty of defrauding a land buyer over two plots in Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja.
ABUJA — The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has sentenced a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Kinsley Eselebor, to 25 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a land buyer with forged documents and obtaining money under false pretences.
Justice A.O. Musa delivered the judgment on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, after finding Eselebor guilty on all five counts brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The court imposed 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 a fine, meaning the effective prison term is seven years.
Eselebor, who worked in the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, was convicted over a transaction involving two plots of land, identified as Plots 383 and 424, at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja.
The prosecution established that the convict collected money from Moses Osinachi for the purchase of the properties despite lacking valid title to transfer ownership to the buyer.
According to evidence presented in court, 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 convince Osinachi that the plots were genuine.
Osinachi reportedly transferred money from his company’s account to Eselebor for the purchase. However, when he attempted to take possession of the properties, he discovered that the defendant had no valid title to transfer.
When confronted, Eselebor reportedly promised to provide alternative plots, but the promise was not fulfilled. The buyer subsequently demanded a refund, but the matter remained unresolved, prompting him to petition the EFCC.
The case was initially filed in March 2021 with three counts of obtaining money under false pretences. The charges were later amended to five to include offences relating to the use of forged documents as genuine.
Reacting to the judgment, Joshua Saidi, the EFCC’s Director of Criminal Litigation and prosecution counsel, said the conviction should serve as a deterrent to individuals involved in land racketeering and the use of forged documents to defraud unsuspecting property buyers.
The development highlights the importance of independently verifying land ownership and title documents before making payments for property, particularly in Abuja, where prospective buyers may rely on personal relationships or the official positions of individuals involved in transactions.
