The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) over the alleged illegal sale of four Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staff houses in Abuja.

The anti-graft agency said 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, Abuja, on Monday, July 13, 2026.

According to a statement posted on the EFCC’s verified Facebook page on Wednesday, the defendants are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, and corruption arising from the alleged fraudulent disposal of government-owned residential properties.

The Commission alleged that between 2024 and 2025, the two officials, while entrusted with the management of FCT staff houses, 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 states: “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 also accused the defendants of corruptly receiving gratification to facilitate the transactions.

According to the third count, the Commission alleged that Oketope received N5 million, while Usman received N4 million from one Anthony Ezekwugo as an inducement to sell the properties.

The charge reads In part, “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… 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 charges.

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 hearing of the case. Defence counsel, L. Ojinma, however, urged the court to admit them to bail.

Justice Bassi granted each defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with one reliable surety.

The court ruled that each surety must reside within the Federal Capital Territory, provide evidence of ownership of landed property in the FCT, depose to an affidavit of means and submit recent passport photographs.

Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, Justice Bassi ordered that the first defendant be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, while the second defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.

The matter was adjourned until October 21, 2026, for the commencement of trial. (LEADERSHIP)

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