By Nkechi Eze
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.
The development was disclosed in an official statement signed by the Spokesperson of the Commission, J. Okor Odey, who said the defendant was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on forgery, contrary to Section 362 and punishable under Section 363 of the Penal Code.
According to the charge, Hussaini allegedly committed the offences on or about 5 June 2023 while serving as Director of Lands, FCTA. He was accused of forging the signature of Mainasara Garba Babayo, a former Director of Land Administration, FCTA, on three Statutory Rights of Occupancy purportedly issued in favour of Etha Ventures Limited. The affected parcels of land are Plot 3128, Plot 3129 and Plot 1204, all located in Cadastral Zone E07, Lugbe Central, Abuja.
In its proof of evidence, the Commission stated that the case stemmed from intelligence reports and a subsequent petition received from members of the public alleging fraudulent allocation and re-allocation of lands by some officials of the FCTA and the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA.
ICPC investigations revealed that Hussaini was appointed Director of Land Administration, FCTA, in 2016, having taken over from Babayo, who served in that position between 2011 and August 2016 before his redeployment. Despite this, the defendant allegedly issued and signed land title documents dated 5 June 2023 bearing Babayo’s name as signatory, several years after the former director had exited the department.
One of the counts against the defendant reads in part: “That you Adamu Jubrin Hussaini (M), Director of Lands, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja, on the 5th June, 2023 or thereabout at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court forged the signature of Mainasara Garba Babayo, the former Director of Land Administration, FCTA on a Statutory Right of Occupancy dated 5th June, 2023 over Plot 3128 in Cadastral Zone E07, Lugbe Central, Abuja in favour of Etha Ventures Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 362 and punishable under Section 363 of the Penal Code.”
When the three-count charge was read to him, Hussaini pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea, ICPC’s prosecutor, Mr. Golden Iwuagu, applied to the court for a date to commence trial. After hearing submissions from all parties, the presiding judge, Honourable Justice Husseini Baba Yusuf, adjourned the matter to 12 March 2026 for further proceedings.
Justice Yusuf granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦20 million with a surety in like sum. The court ruled that the surety must be a serving or retired Deputy Director with landed property within the Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, covered by a valid Certificate of Occupancy, which must be deposited with the Registrar of the Court.
Pending the perfection of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre.
The ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to combating corruption and protecting public assets, including land resources, while urging public officials to uphold the highest standards of integrity in the discharge of their official responsibilities.
