NIGERIA: EFCC Hands Over Recovered Land Documents to Victims Of Fraudulent In Abuja

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officially handed over four recovered land title documents from criminals to their rightful owners on Tuesday, in Abuja.

This was contained in a press statement released by Commission Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, where he stated that the recovered land documents were falsified by a criminal syndicate, which they use to illegally transfer owners of valuable properties across Abuja.

The statement further stated that the documents were part of an elaborate land that saw a group of fraudsters forge titles and signatures, depriving legitimate property owners of their rights.

Oyewale continued that the EFCC, working from actionable intelligence, launched an investigation that led to the identification and apprehension of the fraudster.

The recovered documents were returned to the rightful owners during a ceremony held in the capital.

During the handover, the EFCC Executive Chairman, Mr Ola Olukayode applauded the effort of the EFFC investigators in collaboration with the the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), particularly the Department of Land Administration and Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS).

In his speech, Olukoyede emphasized the importance of partnerships in the fight against corruption and financial crimes, reiterating that the EFCC’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerian property rights remains solid.

He said: “Our engagement this afternoon is a demonstration of our commitment to synergise and collaborate with the public as an agency to fight corruption, and financial and economic crimes in Nigeria.

“We are here to let the public know that this commitment is working and that stakeholders are collaborating with us.

“We are here this afternoon to witness the handing over of title documents to victims of financial crimes in Nigeria. This has been going on for a while and we want the public to know that there is a need for us to work together as a nation and as a people to ensure that perpetrators of crimes do not get away with crime and the proceeds of their crimes.”

Olukayode further explained the fraudster’s modus operandi.

He noted: “who are in the habit of forging documents and in the habit of conniving with some staff members of the FCT to perpetrate crime. This syndicate is in the habit of forging signatures of original allottees of land.”

“Not only do they forge their signatures, they forge their means of identification and passports of the original allottees and go ahead and declare the original title documents of those lands missing.

“The moment they are declared missing, they, on their own, would reapply, forge the signature and identity of the original allottee and get another title document from it.”

Assuring Nigerians that justice would be appropriately served, Olukayode warned other land fraudsters in Abuja that would not escape prosecution.

“We will not allow criminals to benefit from their illegal actions, and we are working closely with the FCTA to ensure that such crimes are punished,” he stated.

One of the victims, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, Director of Lands, FCTA, expressed his gratitude to the EFCC for their efforts in rectifying the wrongs.

He said: “This collaboration restores the faith of Nigerians in the system. We will continue to work with the EFCC to ensure that fraudsters have no place to hide.”

Among those who regained their lands include, Mr Asinobi Emmanuel Ogbuefi, whose land in Kaura District, is valued at over N150 million, the family of the late Ambassador Joseph D. Daze, whose plot in Jahi District, worth over N400 million, Mr Nuhu Umar, whose plot in Guzape District, valued at over N200 million and Mr Omar Ali Bintawa, whose Right of Occupancy for a plot in Katampe Extension, valued at N250 million.