The Imo State Government has declared several land allocation documents currently circulating within the state as fake, warning land buyers and speculators to steer clear of fraudulent transactions—especially in areas like the Irete Pocket Layout and its surroundings.
This was made known in a public statement issued by the Office of the Governor’s Monitoring and Compliance Unit. The announcement, signed by Nze Chinasa Nwaneri, Special Adviser to the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, stated that the government never approved or issued any land allocations for the affected areas.
The government particularly mentioned the Irete Pocket Layout, Reserve C Extension, Imo Housing Estate Avu, Obinze, and the Port Harcourt Road axis as areas of concern where fraudulent land papers are being circulated.
According to Nwaneri, one of the fake documents in circulation is titled *‘Concessional/Compensatory Offer’* and dated January 23, 2019. It allegedly grants allocation of Plot 137A at Irete Pocket Layout to a private party under the name of the Imo State Housing Corporation. The government has confirmed that no such approval was ever granted.
“The Imo State Government has not authorized the Imo State Housing Corporation or any other agency to issue land allocation documents in the areas in question,” the statement read. “Any such document is fake, and all transactions based on them are null and void.”
The government warned that any individual or group involved in land transactions using these fraudulent papers will face legal consequences. It advised the public to verify any land offer through proper government channels before making payments or taking possession.
“This is a serious matter. Anyone who engages in transactions using these backdated and unauthorized documents does so at their own risk and will be dealt with according to the law,” Nwaneri stated.
Land scams and illegal property allocations have long been a problem in Imo State, with past administrations criticized for poor land documentation and oversight. The current government says it is determined to sanitize the system and hold land grabbers accountable.
The state is urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious land offers to the appropriate authorities.
