The Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority says its operatives sealed the office of a suspected impostor who operates under the guise of being a licensed realtor in the Ikorodu area of the state.

This is just as the agency said it had begun a clampdown on unlicensed real estate agents in the state.

This was contained in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the operation was carried out on Wednesday in collaboration with officers of the State Task Force.

It noted that the office of a suspected impostor, Demeny Ventures, who allegedly paraded himself as a registered LASRERA agent using a fake registration number, was closed.

The statement noted that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing, Barakat Odunuga-Bakare, disclosed that the clampdown was part of the government’s efforts to sanitise the real estate sector, protect residents from fraudulent practices, and restore public confidence in property transactions.

She noted that the state permitted duly registered and certified practitioners by LASRERA to operate within the State, warning that individuals and organisations engaging in unlicensed real estate activities would face strict enforcement actions.

“Reports indicate that fraudulent practitioners often collect money from multiple tenants for the same property or sell non-existent plots of land to unsuspecting buyers,” she added.

Odunuga-Bakare further disclosed that LASRERA has strengthened its regulatory mechanisms through enhanced monitoring of real estate transactions, improved registration processes, and prompt investigation of complaints.

The Special Adviser urged residents to always verify the registration status of estate agents and property developers before entering into any property transaction, while also encouraging members of the public to report suspicious activities to LASRERA for prompt action.

Speaking at the premises of the sealed office, the Director of Compliance and Enforcement, LASRERA, Deji Badejo, said the action was taken following credible intelligence on the activities of the suspect.

“Today’s operation is in response to reports of an individual in this area impersonating LASRERA with a fake registration number and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public, particularly accommodation seekers,” the statement quoted Badejo as saying.

He noted that the action was in accordance with the provisions of the LASRERA Law 2022, pending further investigation and regulatory actions. (Punch)

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