The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has conducted a public auction of 190 vehicles and electronic devices at its Zonal Offices in Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, Kano, Ibadan and Uyo.
EFCC Spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
The exercise was preceded by a public inspection of the displayed photographs of the assets on Monday, where potential bidders viewed and identified the vehicles of their choice.
The auction proper started with various licensed auctioneers taking charge of the exercise at the designated centres.
BENIN CENTRE
According to Uwajaren, at Paragon Demonstration School, Limit Road, Benin City, scores of potential buyers bid competitively for the 20 vehicles slated for auction.
The process began at 10.00 a.m. with the auctioneer putting the first car on sale to the highest bidder.
Kelly Osunbor, a human rights activist, who observed the process commended the Commission for the transparency process.
According to him, open bidding gives credibility to the process.
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One of the bidders, Odiase Itua, called for a limit to the amount people can bid.
According to him, some bidders intentionally raised the stake to frustrate others from winning.
“What I saw shocked me. The amount was too much,” he said.
In Ibadan, the commission auctioned 80 vehicles.
IBADAN CENTRE
The exercise took place at the Adamasingba stadium, Ibadan.
A member of the EFCC Asset Disposal Committee and Director of Proceeds of Crime Management, Aliyu Yusuf, coordinating the activities.
Three licensed auctioneers, PSC International Investment Limited, Aikson Nwonkwo D.S. and Aliyu A. Kiliya &Co, to conduct the auction.
Speaking at the Ibadan auction centre, Aliyu reiterated the integrity of the arrangement and the Commission’s determination to ensure the exercise was transparent.
He charged bidders to be disciplined and follow the approved guidelines for a seamless auction.
UYO CENTRE
Also at Uyo, the exercise took place at the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA) along four- lanes in Akwa Ibom State.
Nine cars, two trucks, 11 computers and nine mobile phones were auctioned in an open and transparent bidding process conducted by Trevamteck K & G Limited, the auctioneer.
KANO CENTRE
In Kano, the commission auctioned two cars, 16 mobile phones and one laptop.
Similarly, it auctioned 35 vehicles, computers and electronic devices in Abuja, where hundreds of bidders participated in the exercise at the Commission’s office at Car Park A, Wuse Zone 2.
According to Simon Idoko, a participant, the registration process went smoothly, although the crowd was a bit unruly.
The ongoing sale of forfeited assets by the EFCC began on Dec. 6, at the Lagos Command of the agency.
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