- Safiu Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has vowed to complaints by Nigerians who participated at the auctioning of forfeited vehicles by the Commission’s accredited auctioneers .
The Commission expressed concern over reported unsavoury experiences by the participants in the just concluded public auction of
As contained in a statement issued by the EFCC on its official X handle on Thursday, the complaints received by the Commission included the inability of some citizens to access the websites of the auctioneers, being shut out from the platforms after submitting bids and outrageous bid prices, among others.
Relevant Departments of the Commission, according to the statement, monitored the exercise and can confirm that there were glitches.
The observation was reportedly communicated to the auctioneers for remedial action.
However, the EFCC held that it could not directly intervene while the exercise was ongoing because the process had been assigned to duly accredited and licensed auctioneers in line with provisions of Sections 4(a)(b) of the Proceeds of Crime ( Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 and Section 55 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
The complaints arising from the exercise are rather unfortunate and detracts from the plan of the Commission in settling for online auction which was designed to provide a platform for seamless and transparent participation by millions of Nigerians interested in purchasing the forfeited assets.
While claiming not to make excuses for the auctioneers, the EFCC said it is possible that the sheer number of participants in the exercise (over 4million) perhaps stretched the carrying capacity of the online facilities of the auctioneers, while unstable internet service in parts of the country exacerbated the challenge.
It disclosed that it is currently awaiting the report of the auctioneers and assures that genuine complaints by members of the public will be reviewed to ensure that no one is short-changed in the exercise, adding that those who follow through the process without glitches and emerged winners will certainly be allocated their vehicles.
The Commission’s only interest in the public auction, according to the statement, is to ensure that the assets are disposed of in the most transparent manner and the nation gets value for the assets. This cannot be compromised under any circumstance.