The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called on members of the Property Agents and Landlord Association of Nigeria, PALDAN, Borno State branch, to report transactions involving suspected stolen public funds to the Commission.
Hamza Rilwan, Zonal Head of the Maiduguri Office of the EFCC made the appeal while receiving the executives of the Association, led by the Chairman, Alhaji Lawal Ba’aji Gaye, who paid a Courtesy Visit to the zone.
According to him, “We have identify you in the fight against land fraud in the state. Some members of this great association are currently under investigation and some were convicted.
“People have joined this association to defraud unsuspecting individuals and what is happening concerning land issues in Maiduguri is of serious concern to the EFCC”.
He stressed the need for members of the association to be vigilant and cautious in closing deals.
“Therefore, if any land is marked for sale, the agent responsible for that should endeavor to conduct a thorough search by carrying out due diligence before selling and buying through the Borno Geographical Information Service and village heads respectively.”
He said the association must note that,”the Money Laundering Act has prohibited a cash transaction of N5million for individuals and N10million for government or Corporate Organization without going through financial institution.”
Rilwan advised members of the association to embrace the Whistleblowing Policy of the Federal Government by reporting transactions with suspected stolen public funds to the Commission.
Alhaji Lawal Ba’aji Gaye, the chairman of Property Agents and Landlord Association of Nigeria, Borno State Chapter, said the purpose of the visit is “to introduce ourselves to the zonal office and to equally inform you that Government has given us the mandate to fish out the bad ones who are defrauding unsuspecting individuals by selling to them fake lands.
“We have also created a task force in order to monitor the activities of our members”.
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