The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has
arrested 12 suspected land racketeers who operate in the Abuja Geographical
Information Service.
Although the details of the arrest were sketchy,
our correspondent gathered that it was carried out on Wednesday by a Special
Task Force of the commission comprising its Special Control Unit Against
Money Laundering, and Counter-Terrorism/General Investigation.
The EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who
confirmed the arrest, said it followed intelligence reports on the operations
of the suspects.
According to him, their activities have led to
the fleecing of unsuspecting Nigerians of their money.
Of the 12 persons, he noted that four of them
were found with suspected fake land title documents.
Also, the Head of SCUML, Angela Nworgu, said the
arrest would be a continuous exercise until Abuja and its environs are rid of
unscrupulous land dealers.
She warned those who obtain money under
false pretence from members of the public to desist from doing so as the
commission was poised to cleanse Abuja of illegal land transactions.
The EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, had last
May condemned fraudulent dealings in land acquisition in the FCT.
Speaking at the presentation of a United Nations
Development Programme sponsored report entitled, ‘Systems Study on the Federal
Capital Territory Land Administration and Documentary on Grassroots Involvement
with Budget Process in Abuja’ Lamorde said “for some of us in the law
enforcement regime in this country, if there are areas that have become
interesting to visit and where fraud is being perpetuated, it is land
administration in the FCT.”
The Punch
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