The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned two officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority over the alleged illegal sale of four Federal Capital Territory staff houses in Abuja.
The defendants, Folashade Oketope and Mohammed Kabir Usman, were arraigned before Justice B.M. Bassi of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Jabi, on three counts bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and corruption.
According to the EFCC, the two officials allegedly abused their positions by fraudulently disposing of government-owned residential buildings entrusted to their care.
The anti-graft agency alleged that between 2024 and 2025, the defendants unlawfully sold Houses 3, 4, 7 and 8 located on Plot 756, Abubakar Usman Crescent, Jabi District, Abuja, to private individuals.
One of the charges alleged that the defendants, while entrusted with the management of the properties, dishonestly converted them to personal use by selling them in violation of Sections 311 and 312 of the Penal Code Act.
The EFCC also accused the officials of receiving illegal gratification 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 for the sale of the houses.
The commission said the alleged payments contravened Section 8(a)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel, F.S. Mohammed, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in custody pending the determination of the case.
Defence counsel, L. Ojinma, however, prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail.
Justice Bassi granted each defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with one reliable surety.
The judge ruled that each surety must reside within the Federal Capital Territory, own landed property in the FCT, depose to an affidavit of means and submit recent passport photographs.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the court ordered that Oketope be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, while Usman was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned until October 21, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
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