A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued bench warrants for the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Mr. Joseph Eriki, a Director in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), along with 11 other defendants.
Justice Suleiman Belgore issued the order on Tuesday following the defendants' failure to appear before the court to answer charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, forgery, and using forged documents in relation to land property in Abuja.
The judge specifically directed security agencies to arrest the defendants wherever they may be found in the country and bring them before the court for trial on charges related to alleged land grabbing activities.
The defendants include Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Joseph Eriki, Super Structure Ltd, Bonatec Electrical Company Ltd, Weatherfield Engineering, Marine Service Limited, Asher Information Services Ltd, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, Suraju Aliyu, and Ogbole Michael.
When the case was called, federal government counsel Mr. David Kaswe informed the court that the defendants were on administrative bail and had been duly notified of the charges against them. However, he lamented that efforts to bring them to court had proven futile as none could be located at the addresses they provided.
Citing Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, Kaswe requested the court issue bench warrants against the defendants as a last resort to compel their appearance.
According to court documents, the prosecution alleges that the defendants unlawfully entered plots 461-470 and 486-496 belonging to Etha Ventures Ltd and erected structures with intent to defraud the rightful owner. They allegedly secured a fraudulent consent judgment in suit No FCT/HC/CV/240/2019, giving title of the disputed land to Super Structures Ltd.
The prosecution further claims that some defendants wrongfully restrained and attacked police officers with stones to prevent them from executing a lawful court order dated February 7, 2024.
The charges against the defendants include criminal conspiracy contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Law 2009, criminal trespass contrary to Section 342 of the Penal Code Act 2004, and other related offenses.
Justice Belgore has adjourned the case until June 4, 2025, to allow the prosecution sufficient time to produce the defendants in court for their arraignment.
