General
Lagos Unveils Portal to Curb Real Estate Fraud
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State government has unveiled a portal to register all estate agents in the state in order to curb real estate frauds.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Housing, Mrs Toke Benson-Awoyinka, said the portal, www.lasrera.lagosstate.gov.ng, would be used to register all real estate businesses.
Mrs Benson-Awoyinka said this was with a view to monitoring activities of estate agents and prosecution of the fraudulent ones.
She said that the portal would end the era of fraudulent practices in the real estate sector.
According to her, the state government will no longer tolerate activities of estate agents who defraud Lagos residents on the pretence of securing accommodation or any form of property for prospective buyers or tenants.
”We are well aware of the trend of fraudulent practices of some real estate agents and property developers.
”This is reflected in the complaints received by the agency in recent time of residents who had fallen victims to fake real estate practitioners and property developers, while seeking for accommodation, purchasing and selling of properties.
”As you all know, Lagos State has been the commercial and economic nerve centre of Nigeria and Africa with investment opportunities, hence, the net migration to the state.
”The state government has worked tirelessly over the years to curb the increasing fraudulent practices in this sector, and this explains the need to sanitise the industry,” she said.
The governor’s aide said that the state had been able to prosecute one of such so far and was in court with others.
She said that recently, a lady from the US was duped of N30 million by a particular company with offices in Victoria Island and Magodo.
”We have cases of about 70 people defrauded by some agents. Also, I’m aware of a case of 30 people defrauded by another agent.
”There are instances where agents defrauded prospective clients of agency fees of say, N5000, and showing them properties that are not listed or that they do not even know the owners.
”All these are the narratives we want to change. What we are saying is, if you defraud our people, we will prosecute you.
”In line with the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of Mr Governor on improving Technology Infrastructure, we are today unveiling the website, social media handles and registration portal for effective management and communication amongst the stakeholders.
“The interactive website would enhance post COVID compliance initiatives and promote transparency.
“It would become a one-stop-shop for stakeholders and government,” Mrs Benson-Awoyinka said.
According to her, the new agency’s website is: www.lasrera.com and registrations portal: www.lasrera.lagosstate.gov.ng.
She said that the robust platform contained a brief history of the agency’s initiatives, aims and goal, commitment to the people, a complaint section, a registration portal which allowed one to upload document.
Mrs Benson-Awoyinka said that the agency remained committed to providing an enabling environment and transparent real estate sector that conformed to international best practices, while safeguarding the ultimate interest of all the stakeholders.
According to her, from now, to practice in Lagos as an agent, one must be registered on the website, be at least, a school certificate holder, must have an office as individual, and if an organisation, it must have a board or management team.
”Every agent that is registered will be put on a portal, a compendium which will have all listed agents for easy tracking and follow up. This is part of the purpose of the registration,” she said.
The special adviser, however, said that the state government does not charge any amount to defend Lagosians who felt the need to be defended in the court of law.
She said that there was now a change in the name of a Department under the Ministry of Housing, formerly known as Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department, to Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA).
Mrs Benson-Awoyinka said that the change in the name also upgraded the department to a full agency that would be supervised by the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Onamusi Onadeko, has been sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N50,000.
The former lawmaker, who represented Ogun East Federal Constituency in the National Assembly from 1999 to 2003, was sentenced by Justice Chizoba Oji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja on Thursday, July 30, 2026.
He was found guilty on count 11 and convicted for making inconsistent statements but discharged and acquitted on counts 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
Mr Onadeko’s journey to the court started in 2017, when he was charged by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for his alleged involvement in the award and execution of a N68.7 million contract.
The politician, according to a statement from the ICPC, was accused of using his private companies, Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines Limited, to execute several constituency projects while working as a Senior Legislative Aide to late Senator Buruji Kashamu, who represented Ogun East Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019.
The commission, had in the course of the eight years trial told the court that several contracts like buying of ambulance vehicles, supply of hospital equipment and drugs for Primary Health Centres, as well as construction of classrooms for some selected schools in six communities of Ogun East Senatorial District, were awarded to both Stanton Engineering Limited and Haines and Baines, where the convict doubles as a Managing Director and nominal Director, respectively, an action that violates Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
ICPC also accused Mr Onadeko of making an inconsistent statement that contradicted the one previously made to the Commissioner for Oaths, where he stated that he is a Director of Haines and Baines Limited in an affidavit dated June 30, 20216, but subsequently wrote another statement while under investigation on May 5, 2017, that he is not a shareholder or Director of Haines and Baines Limited.
This action violates Section 25(1)(b) of the ICPC Act and, upon conviction, is liable to a fine not exceeding N100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment.
However, Mr Onadeko, through his counsel, Mr Wahab Olatoyebi, argued in the course of the trial that his client was not a public officer as his appointment at that material time was on a short-term basis and non-pensionable, hence he, (Onadeko) did not fall within the category of those that could be tried under Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 which criminalize and punish abuse of office by public officers.
But this argument was rejected by Justice Oji, who stressed that based on the defendant’s letter of appointment as well as the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Federal Government of Nigeria v. Farouk Lawan, legislative aides are public officers and therefore could be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of Oyo State, Mr Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate the abduction of students and teachers from Esinele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The governor formally inaugurated the commission at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde said that although the successful rescue of the victims brought relief to the state, it did not provide complete closure.
He explained that the decision to set up an independent commission was not intended to undermine the efforts of security agencies but to ensure that every question surrounding the incident is thoroughly addressed and lessons are learnt to prevent a recurrence.
He charged members of the commission to conduct a thorough, impartial, and evidence-based investigation, assuring them of the state government’s full support. He also called on individuals and relevant institutions to cooperate fully with the panel.
Speaking on behalf of the commission, its chairman, Professor Mojeed Owoade, pledged that members would carry out the assignment with integrity, professionalism, and fairness. He added that the panel would seek an extension if necessary to complete its work.
Governor Makinde gave the commission four weeks to submit its report.
Earlier this month, the pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State regained their freedom after 56 days in captivity.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, eight of the kidnappers had been arrested, but the Federal High Court in Abuja on July 23 sentenced three suspects in the abduction to life imprisonment.
According to the court, the sentencing of Mr Abdulrazak Umar, known under the alias Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid; Mr Yunusa Musa, alias Yunusa Bin Musa; and Mr Shamsu Adamu Sani, alias Abu Itisar, will start from the date of their arrest.
Before their sentencing by Justice Salim Ibrahim, counsel for the defendants pleaded with the court to sentence them on liberal terms, adding that they were first-time offenders and had pleaded guilty.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Two Chinese, Mr Zhang Hong Lin and Mr Gao Pei Hai, have been convicted and sentenced by Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for conspiracy and the illegal mining of solid minerals.
They were both found guilty on all five counts levelled against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and sentenced each to five years’ imprisonment on each count, with an option of a N50 million fine covering all five counts.
The court also ordered the forfeiture of the mineral resources recovered from them to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and the unlawful possession of mineral resources intended for export without lawful authority.
“That you, Zhang Hong Lin, Gao Pei Hai, and Gao Pei Yu (currently at large), sometime in 2025 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, conspired among yourselves, with the intent to defraud the Federal Government of Nigeria of revenue accruing therefrom, and without the permission of the appropriate authority, engaged in the exportation of mica products, copper-bearing, and lithium-bearing mineral resources out of Nigeria, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(8)(a) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 1983, and punishable under Section 8 of the same Act,” one of the charges read.
The defendants pleaded guilty when the charges were read to them, with the prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, calling the investigating officer, Matthew Orogwu, who reviewed the facts of the case and tendered documentary evidence before the court.
After presenting the evidence, Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants in line with the charges.
