By Daniel Tyokua
The Director of Investigations and Prosecution of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Joseph Eriki said he was not running from justice in the case of alleged Land fraud before an Abuja High Court sitting at Garki.
Eriki through his lead counsel Elaigwu Apeh, after appearing before Justice Suleiman Belgore on Wednesday, told journalists that he had made necessary applications as required by the law.
The Court had a week ago, ordered the arrest of the Director who is the third defendant in the matter over alleged involvement in a land matter.
Justice Belgore issued a bench warrant against the FCTA official, following his failure to appear before the court to enter his plea to a nine-count charge the Federal Government preferred against him and 11 others.
Other defendants in the matter are: Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, Surajo Aliyu, Ogbole Michael, as well as five companies; Super Structure Limited, Bonatec Electrical Company Limited, Weatherfield Engineering Marine Services Limited and Asher Information Services Limited.
FG alleged that Joseph Eriki had sometimes between 2019 to 2024, allegedly conspired among themselves to defraud a firm- Etha Ventures Limited, of plot 461 to 470 and 486 to 496, Sabon Lugbe, East Layout, Abuja.
They were accused of using a forged land document to defraud the firm, an offence contrary to section 366 of the Penal Code, 2009, and punishable under section 364 of the same Act.
Consequently, relying on section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015, he applied for the court to issue a bench warrant against the defendants as a last resort to compel their attendance for trial.
Counsel to the defantand said, “We made two applications. One, for staying the bench warrants, setting aside the bench warrants, and staying the proceedings pending when proper service or the process has been served.
“In the wisdom of the court, there is a need for them to appear by the nurse’s agenda, which is 23 June. So, we will make an effort and we will also like those applications to be considered too
“If you don’t follow the law, then that is the issue. However, as they say, we are not running from justice. We have good defence”
In his brief ruling, Justice Suleiman Belgore told counsel to the defendants to make proper application before the next date, June 23, 2025.
