The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered and returned four land title documents worth approximately N1 billion to their rightful owners after they were fraudulently taken by a criminal syndicate operating in Abuja.
The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, made this known on Tuesday while handing over the documents to the victims. Olukoyede explained that the syndicate specialized in falsifying land documents by forging signatures, identification, and passports of the original allottees. Once they successfully faked the ownership records, they would declare the original documents missing and reapply for new ones in their names. He stated that the EFCC, acting on intelligence, was able to track down and arrest several suspects involved in the operation.
Those apprehended are now facing prosecution, and investigations are ongoing to bring all culprits to justice.During the handover ceremony, the EFCC chairman emphasized the agency’s commitment to combating land fraud and other financial crimes. He called on Nigerians to be vigilant and conduct proper due diligence before engaging in land transactions, particularly in Abuja, where fraudulent activities remain a serious issue.
He also warned fraudsters that the EFCC would not relent in its efforts to recover stolen properties and prosecute those responsible. Among the victims who had their properties restored was Asinobi Ogbuefi, who reclaimed his title document for a plot of land in the Kaura District, Abuja, valued at over N150 million. The family of the late Joseph Daze also received their title document for a Jahi District property worth more than N400 million.
Additionally, Nuhu Umar retrieved the certified true copy of his land allocation in Guzape District, valued at over N200 million, while Omar Bintawa regained the right of occupancy for a property in the Katampe Extension, worth an estimated N250 million.
The Director of Lands at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Chijioke Nwankwoeze, praised the EFCC for its intervention, stating that the recovery of these documents had restored confidence in the system. He acknowledged that some fraudulent activities had been carried out with the involvement of corrupt officials and assured that the FCTA would continue working closely with the EFCC to eliminate such practices.
Speaking on behalf of the victims, Nuhu Umar expressed gratitude to the EFCC, saying he never expected to reclaim his land after so many years. He commended the agency’s dedication and urged them to continue their efforts to help other victims of land fraud recover their properties.
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that criminals do not profit from their fraudulent activities, stressing that more arrests and prosecutions would follow as investigations continue.
