Kehinde Fajobi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has acknowledged concerns raised by Nigerians regarding the recent public auction of forfeited vehicles and has assured that all genuine complaints will be reviewed.
In a statement on Thursday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the commission had received reports from participants about technical difficulties and irregularities during the auction, which was conducted by accredited auctioneers.
“Among the complaints received by the Commission were 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,” the statement read.
Oyewale noted that while EFCC officials monitored the process and observed glitches, the commission could not directly intervene as the auction was handled by licensed professionals in accordance with the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, and the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
He attributed some of the challenges to the overwhelming participation, stating that “over 4 million” Nigerians took part in the auction, which may have exceeded the capacity of the auctioneers’ online platforms. Unstable internet services in some areas also worsened the situation.
Despite these setbacks, the EFCC maintained that its objective was to ensure a fair and transparent process.
“The Commission’s only interest in the public auction 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,” Oyewale stated.
The commission says it is currently awaiting a report from the auctioneers and assured that winners who successfully completed the process will receive their vehicles.