A bench warrant has been issued by the Federal Capital Territory’s (FCTA) High Court for the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of Mr. Joseph Eriki, an FCTA director, along with eleven other individuals.
After the defendants failed to show up in court to defend a charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, forgery, and using a counterfeit document as authentic in connection with landed property in Abuja, an arrest order was issued.
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Justice Suleiman Belgore specifically ordered security agencies to arrest the defendants wherever they are found in the nation and bring them before the court for a trial on charges that border on land grabbing.
Mr. David Kaswe, the federal government’s counsel, stated the court that the defendants were on administrative bail and that they had been fully apprised of the charges against them when the case was called.
However, he bemoaned the fact that no one could be found at the addresses they provided, meaning that all attempts to bring them to court had failed.
As a last resort, Kaswe requested that the court issue a bench warrant against the defendants in order to force their appearance in court, citing Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
The prosecution claimed that the 1st to 9th defendants unlawfully entered upon plot 461-470 and 486-496 belonging to Etha Ventures and put up structures with intent to defraud Etha Ventures Ltd.
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The prosecution further alleged that the defendants in trying to actualize their intent, fraudulently secured a consent judgment in suit No FCT/HC/CV/240/2019 giving title of Plot 1406 (461-470 ‘and 486-496) Sabon Lugbe East Layout Abuja to Super Structures Ltd.
Kaswe went on to say that the FCTA director an other defendants’ actions violated public peace and were a crime against public servants.
In a brief judgement, Justice Belgore has set June 4 as the date for the arraignment of the accused, allowing the prosecution to present them in court.
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