By Adenike Lawal
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Garki, Abuja, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Joseph Eriki, Director of Investigation and Prosecution at the FCT Administration, and ten others over alleged criminal forgery and conspiracy.
Justice Suleiman Belgore gave the order following a request by Federal Government prosecuting counsel David Kaswe, who told the court the defendants had persistently refused to appear despite being aware of the six-count charge against them.
Kaswe detailed several attempts to reach the accused, including phone calls, contacts through lawyers and police sureties, all of which failed to yield results.
“In line with Section 124 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), and considering the need for expeditious trial, we respectfully apply for a bench warrant to compel their attendance,” he said.
Granting the application, Justice Belgore ruled that the defendants had deliberately evaded court summons.
“Given their deliberate absence and refusal to cooperate, despite being granted police bail during the investigation, a bench warrant is hereby issued for all named defendants,” the judge declared.
The court adjourned the case to June 4, 2025, for arraignment.
The defendants are accused of criminal conspiracy, unlawful trespass, forgery, presentation of forged documents, and obstruction of a public servant.
The charges stem from allegations that the accused illegally accessed and developed plots of land belonging to Etha Ventures and fraudulently secured a consent judgment to transfer ownership to Super Structure Ltd.
The other defendants include Boniface Agwu, Ikechukwu Kanu, Donatec Electrical Company Ltd., Super Structure Ltd., Weatherfield Engineering, Marine Service Ltd., Asher Information Services Ltd., Prince Isaac Omoluwa, Nwaimoneye Augustine Onyisi, and Sarajo Aliyu Ogbole Michael.
