A massive land allocation fraud has hit Imo State, sparking outrage among residents and prompting an urgent response from the state government.
The scandal involves fake and backdated land documents purportedly issued for plots in several strategic layouts, including Irete Pocket Layout, Reserve C Layout Extension, Imo Housing Estate Avu, Obinze, and the Port Harcourt Road axis.
The Imo State Government, in a statement on Monday, denied any involvement in the issuance of these fraudulent documents and cautioned members of the public against engaging in illegal land transactions.
The announcement was delivered by Mr Chinasa Nwaneri, Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance.
According to him, the government had not granted approval or authorization to the Imo Housing Corporation—or any other agency—for land allocations in the affected areas.
“Let it be clearly stated that the Imo State Government did not approve any layouts or land allocations at Irete Pocket Layout, Reserve C Layout Extension, Imo Housing Estate Avu, Obinze, or the Port Harcourt Road axis,” said Nwaneri.
“All documents in circulation claiming to offer land allocations in these areas are fake, illegal, and were criminally backdated to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.”
He cited one particularly egregious example: a document dated January 23, 2019, titled “Concessional/Compensatory Offer”, which claimed to allocate Plot 137A at the Irete Pocket Layout to a private entity. According to Nwaneri, the document was forged and is among several being investigated by security agencies.
“These are not isolated incidents,” he said. “This is a coordinated criminal scheme designed to defraud innocent citizens.
“We urge everyone to be vigilant and to report any suspicious land transactions to the appropriate authorities.”
Several residents have expressed shock and disappointment after discovering that documents they believed were genuine were, in fact, worthless.
The Imo State Government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Nwaneri stressed that anyone found to be involved—either within or outside the public service—will face the full weight of the law.
He also advised members of the public to verify all land-related documents directly with the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning before making any financial commitments.
“When in doubt, walk into the ministry and verify. Don’t rely on middlemen or unofficial channels,” Nwaneri added.
The government further announced that more detailed public notices will be issued as investigations progress.
In the meantime, security agencies have been directed to intensify surveillance around the affected layouts to prevent encroachment and further illegal activities.