A strong warning was issued specifically to individuals and groups unlawfully occupying land belonging to state-owned educational institutions.

This was stated by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Asset Management and Recovery, Mr Gilbert Agbor, in a statement made available to journalists in Calabar on Friday.

The government condemned the increasing cases of land encroachment affecting several schools, including the University of Cross River (UNICROSS), formerly CRUTECH, and the University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.

Other affected institutions include Government College, Ikot Ansa; Government Secondary School, Obio-Asim, Odukpani; Girls’ Secondary School, Ugep; and Government Technical College, Obubra.

Government Secondary School (GOVISCO), Ikom, and several other institutions across the state have also been impacted by illegal occupation.

“The government has directed all illegal occupants to vacate these lands immediately. Swift and decisive action will be taken against defaulters, regardless of their status or influence.

“Gov. Bassey Otu has ordered the immediate recovery of all state properties unlawfully taken over. His administration remains committed to protecting government assets from misuse,” Agbor said.

He urged the public to provide useful information that could assist in recovering these assets, assuring informants of confidentiality and appropriate rewards for credible intelligence.

Additionally, members of the public were encouraged to report illegal occupation of government property to the Department of Asset Management and Recovery at the Governor’s Office. (NAN)

Nelson, arraigned on February 11, 2025 is facing prosecution by the EFCC on 11 count-charges bordering on advance fee fraud, impersonation, conspiracy and obtaining under false pretence to the tune of $968,000 (Nine Hundred and Sixty-eight Thousand Dollars), allegedly obtained from two US victims, Sharp and Holly Stamm.

Count one of his charge reads:  “That you, Wawe Esoghene Nelson (a.k.a James Andrew Smith) sometime in 2023 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of One Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($155,000) from one Kathleen Sharp, living in the United States of America with Telephone Number +13025983826 through Chase Bank with account name Pearl and Allison Llc, account number 952177670, Routing 021000021, account address 35 Knollwood Dr Aptos CA 95003 with bank address at 1990 41st Avenue, Capitola, CA 95010 under the false pretence that you are James Andrew Smith, a Petroleum Engineer from United States of America that is into engineering project, relating to petroleum project which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Count 11 reads: “That you Wawe Esoghene Nelson (a.k.a Philip Bradley) sometime in 2022 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars ($120,000.00) from one Holly Stamm,  a Citizen of United States of America with email address stammus2012@gmail.com through Bitcoin and under the false pretence that you are James Andrew Shmit a Petroleum Engineer from United States of America that is into engineering project relating to petroleum exploration and that the said sum will be used to secure a petroleum project which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a)of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him, prompting his trial.

Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel, Maryam Aminu Ahmed, the witness  narrated how the defendant lured her via the social media into sending him money in the guise of financing a project and would repay her when the project yielded dividends upon completion.

“I was contacted by the Commission that they discovered that I was defrauded by one James Andrew Shmit via social media platform. We communicated over social media where he presented himself as an engineer working at BP Oil in the Gulf of Mexico. He started by asking for funds because he did not have access to his personal funds and the credit situation in connection with the project required a large amount of funds with the promise that it will be returned and he will avail the funds to me. The total funds are $183,000 (One Hundred and Eighty-three Thousand Dollars) through three instalments, one by wired certificate cheque, two instalments by wired transfer. The first one was for $45,500, (Forty-five Thousand Dollars), the second one was $131,000 (One Hundred and Thirty-one Dollars) and the third was $7000 (Seven Thousand Dollars) I wired. I have not been paid my money.