Director of Investigations and Prosecution at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr Joseph Eriki, has denied fleeing from justice after an Abuja High Court issued a bench warrant for his arrest over alleged land fraud.
Appearing before Justice Suleiman Belgore at the Garki Division on Wednesday, Eriki’s lead counsel, Elaigwu Apeh, told journalists: “We made two applications. One for staying the bench warrants, setting aside the bench warrants, and staying the proceedings pending when proper service of the process has been completed.”
The warrant was issued last week after Eriki, the third defendant in a nine-count charge filed by the federal government, failed to appear in court to enter his plea.
He and 11 others, including Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, Surajo Aliyu, Ogbole Michael and companies, Super Structure Limited, Bonatec Electrical Company Limited, Weatherfield Engineering Marine Services Limited, and Asher Information Services Limited, stand accused of conspiracy to defraud Etha Ventures Limited of Plots 461-470 and 486-496 in Sabon Lugbe, East Layout, Abuja, between 2019 and 2024.
The prosecution alleges they used forged land documents, violating Section 366 of the Penal Code (2009) and punishable under Section 364. The bench warrant was secured under Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
Apeh emphasised Eriki’s compliance: “We made two applications: one for staying the bench warrant, setting aside the bench warrant, and staying proceedings pending proper service of the process. However, in the wisdom of the court, it has said that they need to appear by the next adjourned date, which is June 23. So we will make the effort, and we would also like those applications to be considered,” he said.
When asked if he were confident the defendant would be in court by the next adjourned date, Apeh responded, “There is nothing to hide because part of our second application is for bail to ensure the prosecution has enough time to respond.”
“So that day, even if he is there, we can move our application for bail. We are not only relying on this fundamental issue of notice. We have also filed applications, which means we’re ready to proceed with the trial,” he added.
In his ruling, Justice Belgore directed the defence: “Counsel to the defendants must make proper application before the next date, June 23, 2025.”
The federal government had alleged that the defendants colluded to illegally seize prime land valued at billions of naira using falsified titles. If convicted, they face up to seven years’ imprisonment under the penal code.
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