ICPC arraigns FCTA Director over alleged forgery of land title documents

By Benedicta Aboh

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the remand of a Director of Lands with the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Adamu Jubrin Hussaini, at the Kuje Correctional Centre following his arraignment over alleged forgery of statutory land title documents.

Mr. Hussaini was arraigned before a Federal Capital Territory High Court on a three-count charge of forgery, contrary to Section 362 and punishable under Section 363 of the Penal Code.

According to the ICPC spokesperson, Mr. Okor Odey, the charges stem from allegations that the defendant, on or about June 5, 2023, while serving as Director of Lands, forged the signature of a former Director of Land Administration, Mr. Mainasara Garba Babayo, on three Statutory Rights of Occupancy purportedly issued to Etha Ventures Limited.

The affected parcels of land include Plot 3128, Plot 3129 and Plot 1204, all located in Cadastral Zone E07, Lugbe Central District, Abuja.

The Commission stated that the case arose from intelligence reports and a petition from members of the public alleging fraudulent allocation and re-allocation of lands by officials of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

Investigations revealed that Mr. Hussaini was appointed Director of Land Administration in 2016, succeeding Mr. Babayo, who held the position between 2011 and August 2016 before his redeployment. Despite this, the defendant allegedly issued and signed land title documents dated June 5, 2023, bearing Mr. Babayo’s name as signatory—several years after he had left the department.

One of the charges reads that Mr. Hussaini forged the signature of Mr. Babayo on a Statutory Right of Occupancy dated June 5, 2023, over Plot 3128 in Cadastral Zone E07, Lugbe Central, Abuja, in favour of Etha Ventures Limited.

Mr. Hussaini pleaded not guilty to all three counts.

Following his plea, ICPC prosecutor, Mr. Golden Iwuagu, applied for a date for the commencement of trial. The presiding judge, Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, adjourned the matter to March 12, 2026, for further proceedings.

The court granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦20 million with one surety in like sum. Justice Yusuf ruled that the surety must be a serving or retired Deputy Director who owns landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), with a valid Certificate of Occupancy to be deposited with the court registrar.

Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the court ordered that Mr. Hussaini be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The ICPC reiterated its commitment to combating corruption and protecting public assets, particularly land resources, and urged public officials to uphold integrity and accountability in the discharge of their duties.