The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCTA) over alleged corruption, conspiracy and the illegal sale of four government-owned staff houses in Abuja.
The EFCC alleged that the defendants, Folashade Oketope and Mohammed Usman, abused their positions by facilitating the unlawful disposal of the Federal Capital Territory staff houses and receiving financial inducements in the process, after which they were arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jabi, Abuja, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and corruption involving the alleged illegal sale of four Federal Capital Territory staff houses.
According to the EFCC, the defendants, who were entrusted with the management of the properties, unlawfully sold Staff Houses numbered 3, 4, 7 and 8, located on Plot 756, Abubakar Usman Crescent, Jabi District, Abuja, to private individuals between 2024 and 2025, in violation of the provisions of the Penal Code Act.
The commission alleged that the duo corruptly received financial benefits from one Anthony Ezekwugo to facilitate the transactions.
It claimed that Oketope received ₦5 million, while Usman allegedly collected ₦4 million as inducements to secure the arbitrary sale of the government-owned properties, an act said to contravene the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Count two of 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.”
Count three reads: “That you, Folashade Oketope and Mohammed Kabir Usman, between 2024 and 2025 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, being a 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, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a)(ii) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under Section 8(ii) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all three counts after the charges were read to them.
Following their plea, prosecution counsel, F.S. Mohammed, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the commencement of proceedings.
In it’s ruling, the court granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦10 million with one reliable surety, ordering that the sureties must be residents of the Federal Capital Territory, provide evidence of ownership of landed property within the FCT, depose to affidavits of means and submit recent passport photographs.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the first defendant be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, while the second defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until October 21, 2026, for the commencement of trial.