Court slams 25-year jail term on FCDA staff, Kingsley Eselebor for defrauding land buyer in Abuja

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has sentenced Kinsley Eselebor, a staff member of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), to 25 years’ imprisonment for defrauding a land buyer through false representations and forged documents.

Justice A.O. Musa 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 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 fine.

The conviction followed Eselebor’s involvement in the sale of two plots of land, identified as Plots 383 and 424, at Kubwa District Central Annex, Abuja, to Moses Osinachi, despite lacking valid title to transfer the properties.

Evidence before the court showed that Osinachi and Eselebor were neighbours and worshipped at the same church. Their relationship, combined with Eselebor’s employment at the FCDA’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, 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.

Although Osinachi sought further confirmation of the documents’ authenticity, Eselebor allegedly assured him that they were valid, relying on his position as an FCDA employee.

Acting on the assurances, Osinachi transferred money from his company’s account, Moscow International Services Limited, to Eselebor for the purchase of 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, Eselebor reportedly admitted knowing that the properties had rival claimants and promised to secure alternative plots for the buyer. However, the promise was not fulfilled.

Osinachi subsequently demanded a refund, but the dispute remained unresolved as Eselebor’s explanations reportedly changed. The buyer eventually petitioned the EFCC, which investigated the allegations and brought the case to court.

The charge was initially filed in March 2021 with three counts bordering on obtaining money under false pretences. It was later amended to five counts, with the additional charges 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, described the conviction as a warning to individuals involved in land racketeering and the use of fraudulent documents to deceive property buyers.

Saidi expressed concern that Eselebor’s position in a government agency had allegedly been used to gain the buyer’s trust and facilitate the transaction.

He said the case highlighted the risks faced by members of the public who rely on the apparent credibility of government employees when purchasing land.

According to him, the judgment should discourage fraudsters from using forged documents to exploit unsuspecting buyers and undermine confidence in property transactions.

Saidi also questioned how many other people might have fallen victim to similar schemes if the case had not been pursued.

He maintained that the conviction demonstrated the consequences of fraud and the importance of holding public employees accountable when they are found guilty of criminal conduct.

The judgment adds to enforcement efforts against fraudulent land transactions, which expose buyers to financial losses and disputes over ownership, particularly where documents presented as evidence of title turn out to be invalid.