The Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have announced a groundbreaking collaboration to curb real estate fraudulent practices in the sector.
The partnership between LASRERA and EFCC was facilitated during a courtesy visit on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Barr. Barakat Odunuga-Bakare led the agency's management team to discuss several issues of fraud emanating from real estate transactions in the State.
According to the Special Adviser, the
partnership comes as a response to the growing concerns surrounding real estate
fraud in Nigeria, revealing that the joint forces of the two organizations are
needed to further enhance the regulations and enforcement of ethical standards
within the real estate industry by ensuring a secure and transparent
environment for both buyers and sellers.
She said that LASRERA and EFCC will work closely to investigate and prosecute individuals and organizations involved in fraudulent practices such as impersonation, property flipping, and document forgery.
By leveraging their
respective expertise and resources, the Special Adviser informed that LASRERA
and EFCC will strengthen the legal framework and enforcement mechanisms to
tackle real estate fraud effectively.
Speaking further,
Odunuga-Bakare highlighted the importance of the collaboration between the two
government agencies in safeguarding the interests of both investors and the
general public.
"Real estate fraud not only undermines
the integrity of the sector but also poses significant financial risks to
individuals and the economy as a whole. By teaming up with EFCC, we are sending
a strong message that such practices will not be tolerated, and perpetrators
will be held accountable.
“The EFCC, known for its
expertise in investigating financial crimes, will bring its extensive knowledge
and experience to this collaboration. The agency's mandate aligns perfectly
with LASRERA's mission to regulate and promote ethical practices in the real
estate industry,” the Special Adviser added.
She implored the Lagos Zonal
Command of the EFCC to ensure that the registration status of any individual or
organization being interrogated by the Commission for real estate-related fraud
is ascertained through the registration portal of LASRERA to know if the person
or organization is genuine or not.
Speaking during the visit, the Zonal Commander, EFCC Lagos Zonal Command, who is also an Assistant Commander of the EFCC1, Michael .T. Wetkas described the visit as a good move that will further assist the Commission in investigating corrupt cases around real estate transactions.
While saying that real estate
investment-related issues constitute a major part of complaints received by the
Commission in recent times, the Zonal
Commander
maintained that the
partnership between LASRERA and the EFCC will rekindle investors’ confidence in
the Lagos’ real estate sector.
He said that the
collaborative effort is expected to have a far-reaching impact on the real
estate sector, restoring confidence and trust among stakeholders, just as he
urged the public to report any suspicious activities related to real estate
transactions appropriately, assuring them that their identities will be
protected.
It should be noted that while
LASRERA is a government agency established to regulate and promote the real
estate industry in Lagos State by protecting the interests of both buyers and
sellers through professionalism, transparency, and integrity, the EFCC is
Nigeria's leading agency in the fight against economic and financial crimes
with a mandate to investigate, prosecute, and prevent financial crimes.
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