Two officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged illegal sale of government-owned staff houses in Abuja.
The anti-graft agency brought Folashade Oketope and Mohammed Kabir Usman before Justice B.M. Bassi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi on Monday, July 13, 2026, on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and corruption. The EFCC made the development public in a statement issued on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
According to the Commission, the two officials allegedly abused their positions by fraudulently disposing of four Federal Capital Territory staff houses located at Plot 756, Abubakar Usman Crescent, Jabi District, Abuja.
One of the charges alleged that between 2024 and 2025, the defendants unlawfully sold the government-owned properties, identified as Houses 3, 4, 7 and 8, to private individuals, an act the EFCC said contravenes Sections 311 and 312 of the Penal Code Act.
The Commission also accused the defendants of receiving financial inducements to facilitate the transactions. It alleged that Oketope collected ₦5 million, while Usman received ₦4 million from one Anthony Ezekwugo to enable the sale of the government properties.
Another charge stated that both officials, being public officers, corruptly accepted the payments as rewards for facilitating the arbitrary sale of the staff houses, contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read before the court.
Following their plea, EFCC prosecuting counsel, F.S. Mohammed, asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants in custody pending the hearing of the case. Defence counsel, L. Ojinma, however, applied for bail on their behalf.
Justice Bassi granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦10 million with one reliable surety each. The court ruled that each surety must reside within the FCT, own landed property in the territory, depose to an affidavit of means and provide recent passport photographs.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the Judge 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.