Operatives of the Uyo Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended six individuals suspected of belonging to a land fraud syndicate in Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects are alleged to have defrauded a victim of six million naira in a bogus land transaction.
The arrested suspects have been identified as Enobong Etim also known as Edet Nsem Udo, Iniakop Okot, Emmanuel Edet, Essien Aniedi, Christopher Anthony, and Edwin Etim.
They were arrested at different locations across Akwa Ibom State.
The arrests followed a petition filed by Aniekan Koffi, who alleged that the prime suspect, Etim, used a “pseudo name” and, along with his accomplices, “defrauded him of the said sum in a bogus land transaction” involving a parcel of land at Ifa Ikot Ubo, Ifa Ikot Okpon–Etoi in Uyo Local Government Area.
READ ALSO
According to the petitioner, he was introduced to the prime suspect and his gang in July 2025 by a syndicate member who “claimed access to a prime parcel of land which, according to them, was up for sale.”
Koffi said he was taken to the land for inspection and was later shown “some forged documents by the arrested suspects.
“Relying on the offer, which the victim eventually found to be fraudulent,” he allegedly paid the sum of ₦6,000,000.00 to the fraudsters.
This payment reportedly included an initial transfer of ₦4,000,000.00 into a UBA Account Number: 1027675758, which belongs to the prime suspect.
Preliminary investigations by the EFCC have confirmed that “the said piece of land does not belong to Etim or any member of the syndicate” and that the petitioner was indeed “defrauded of the sum of ₦6,000,000.00.
The Commission stated that efforts are still ongoing to apprehend other accomplices and recover the petitioner’s funds.
EFCC said the arrested suspects will reportedly be charged in court soon.
