Enugu lawyer asks EFCC to release funds recovered from suspect

An Enugu-based lawyer, Arinze Onyia, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release the N1m it recovered during investigating of a suspect, Abel Ani, over a failed land deal.

Onyia said he paid N3m to Ani for a piece of land in Enugu four years ago and had moved to develop it, but could not continue with the development of the property following contentions that arose over the rightful owner.

It was gathered that another person had risen to claim ownership of same property and had warned Onyia to stay away from it.

Efforts to convince the third party that he actually bought the land failed, prompting him (Onyia) to demand the refund of the money from Ani.

He had petitioned the EFCC over the failed transaction, after several failed attempts to settle the matter, urging the commission to help recover the N3m or the matter would be charged to court.