A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a Director, Investigation and Prosecution in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr Joseph Eriki and 11 others.

The arrest order was made following the failure of the defendants to appear before the court to defend a charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, forgery and using as genuine a forged document in relations to landed property in Abuja.

While the federal government is the sole plaintiff, the 1st to 12th defendants included; 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.

Justice Suleiman Belgore, who issued the ordered on Tuesday, specifically charged security agencies to arrest the defendants wherever they are found in the country and bring them before the court for trial on charges bordering on land grabbing.

When the matter was called, counsel to the federal government, Mr David Kaswe told the court that the defendants were on administrative bail and were duly informed of the charges against them.

He however lamented that all efforts to bring them to court had been abortive as none of the defendants could be located in the addresses they supplied.

Citing Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, Kaswe applied for the court to issue a bench warrant against the defendants as the last resort to compel their appearance before the court.

Kaswe in a four paragraph affidavit deposed to in support of the suit stated that the defendants were arrested over alleged criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass, forgery, using as genuine a forged document, criminal force to deter a public servant from his duty, wrongful restrain and causing hurt.

The lawyer while adding that investigations were concluded before a charge was filed, added that a prima facie was established against them.

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.

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.

It Is also the case of the prosecution that the 10th -12th defendants wrongfully restrained and stoned police officers with the intent of disrupting them from carrying out their lawful assigned being the FCT High Court Order dated February 7, 2024 in suit no FCT/HC/CV/240/2019.

Kaswe added that the defendants by their action caused breach of public peace and an offence against public servants.

The defendants in count one were alleged to have sometime between 2019 to 2024 in Abuja, FCT ?conspired amongst yourselves to defraud Etha Ventures Ltd of plot 461-470 and 486-496. You thereby committed an offence of criminal conspiracy contrary to Section 96 of the Penal Code Law 2009 and punishable under Section 97 of the same Law.

Count two reads, ?That you Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Super Structure Ltd, Bonatec Electrical Company Ltd, Weatherfield Engineering and Marine Service Limited, Asher Information Services Ltd and Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Male, Adult and companies registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, sometime between 2017 to 2019 in plot 461-470 and 486-496 Sabon Lugbe East Layout Abuja State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, unlawfully entered upon plot 461-470 and 486-496 belonging to Etha Ventures and put up structures with intent to defraud Ethan Ventures Ltd thereby obtaining advantages for yourselves. You thereby committed an offence of criminal trespass contrary to Section 342 of the Penal Code Act 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act?.

Meanwhile, Justice Belgore has fixed June 4 to enable the prosecution produce the defendants in court for their arraignment. (THISDAY)

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