The new Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Registrar-General, Hussaini Magaji says he uncovered 189 fake companies positioned to defraud well-meaning Nigerians within one week after assuming office.
Magaji told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja that a syndicate of criminals that specialised in operating numerous unregistered companies was arrested by the commission.
“One of the milestone achieved upon my assumption of duty is our ability to burst a ring of criminals that are creating havoc in the commission.
“About 189 fake companies have been identified to be used by these group of persons to secure lands.
“We discovered that these non-existing entities collaborate with lawyers who claim to be accredited agents with the commission.
“They collaborate with some staff of the Abuja Geographical Information System, (AGIS), manage their way to make applications at the AGIS and take priority over existing applications. “With the collaboration of security agents we arrested the suspects who have volunteered some information,” he said.
He said the suspect was arrested through complaints from the FCTA asking the commission to verify some applications made by some entities.
He said upon findings, the commission discovered that the companies were not even in existence. “The nature of their crime is that they create a fake entity and apply for land at the FCTA and maneuver their way to have a priority application over an existing application.
“To take over the land and they have succeeded severally in the past.
The CAC scribe then reiterated his commitment to deter others from engaging in such act. On plans for the Commission, Magaji said more efforts would be geared towards increasing revenue for the Commission.
The registrar- general said upon his assumption to duty, he came up with some plans among which is the human capital development.
“I think this is essential to the discharge of the responsibilities of any staff in the commission and we are taking it seriously.
“Followed by the welfare of staff; this is one of the issues we met in the commission that is lingering and creating havoc in the commission.”