An Abuja High Court sitting in Garki has ordered the arrest of the Director of Investigations and Prosecution of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Joseph Eriki, over his alleged involvement in a multi-billion-naira land fraud.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
Justice Suleiman Belgore issued the bench warrant on Tuesday following Eriki’s failure to appear before the court to enter his plea in a nine-count criminal charge filed against him and 11 others by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The other defendants in the case include: Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, Surajo Aliyu, Ogbole Michael, and five corporate entities — Super Structure Limited, Bonatec Electrical Company Limited, Weatherfield Engineering Marine Services Limited, and Asher Information Services Limited.
According to the prosecution, the alleged fraudulent activities occurred between 2019 and 2024, during which the defendants allegedly conspired to defraud a private company, Etha Ventures Limited, of multiple plots of land — specifically plots 461 to 470 and 486 to 496 — located at Sabon Lugbe, East Layout, Abuja.
The Federal Government alleges that the accused used forged land documents in executing the fraud, a criminal act that violates Section 366 of the Penal Code Act of 2009, and is punishable under Section 364 of the same law.
Mr. Eriki, in particular, is accused of falsifying information about the disputed plots and presenting forged documents to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation in an effort to lend legitimacy to the fraudulent transactions.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, government counsel David Kaswe informed the court that all the defendants were aware of the charges but had failed to appear despite being on administrative bail.
Citing Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Kaswe urged the court to issue bench warrants to compel their appearance, noting that previous efforts to secure their attendance had been unsuccessful.
In a swift ruling, Justice Belgore granted the prosecution’s request and ordered the arrest and production of all the defendants before the court on the next adjourned date, June 4, 2025.
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