Суд в Абудже разрешил залог двум чиновникам за незаконную продажу правительственных домов

One of the charges alleged that the defendants unlawfully sold four government-owned staff houses located at Plot 756, Abubakar Usman Crescent, Jabi District, Abuja, to private individuals The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Folashade Oketope and Mohammed Kabir Usman, over their alleged involvement in the illegal sale of four government-owned staff houses in Abuja. According to a statement issued by the anti-graft agency on Wednesday, the defendants were arraigned before Justice B.M. Bassi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jabi, on Monday on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and corruption. The EFCC alleged that the two public officials abused their positions by fraudulently disposing of Federal Capital Territory staff houses allocated to the FCDA. One of the charges alleged that the defendants unlawfully sold four government-owned staff houses located at Plot 756, Abubakar Usman Crescent, Jabi District, Abuja, to private individuals The charge reads: "That you Folashade Oketope and Mohammed Kabir Usman between 2024 and 2025 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being entrusted with dominion over the Federal Capital Territory Staff Houses with House Numbers 3, 4, 7 and 8 of Plot 756 Abubakar Usman Crescent, Jabi District Abuja, dishonestly misappropriated or converted to your own use by unlawfully selling it to private individuals and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and punishable under Section 312 of the same Act." The EFCC further alleged that the two officials received millions of naira in bribes to facilitate the transactions. According to the commission, Oketope allegedly received N5 million while Usman allegedly collected N4 million from one Anthony Ezekwugo as inducement to facilitate the sale of the properties. Another charge states: "That you, Folashade Oketope and Mohammed Kabir Usman, between 2024 and 2025 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being public officers, did corruptly receive the sum of N5,000,000.00 (Five Million Naira) and N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira) respectively from Anthony Ezekwugo to facilitate sale on inducement or reward as your act knowing to receive and secure the arbitrary sale of houses number 3, 4, 7 & 8 of Plot 756 Abubakar Usman Crescent, Jabi Abuja." The alleged offences are said to contravene provisions of the Penal Code Act and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read in court. Following their plea, the prosecution counsel, F.S. Mohammed, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in correctional custody pending the determination of the case. Counsel for the defendants, L. Ojinma, however, applied for bail on their behalf. In his ruling, Justice B.M. Bassi admitted both defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million each, with one reliable surety each. The court ordered that each surety must reside within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), own landed property in the FCT, depose to an affidavit of means and provide recent passport photographs. Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, Justice Bassi ordered that Oketope be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, while Usman be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre. The case was thereafter adjourned until October 21, 2026, for the commencement of trial.