A storm of controversy has erupted over the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) recent auction of seized vehicles, with Nigerian social media users alleging that the process was rigged to favour select individuals.
Sahara Reporters, through its official X handle, amplified the outrage, reporting that Nigerians have accused the anti-graft agency of manipulating the bidding process for cars forfeited in corruption, money laundering, and cybercrime cases.
Earlier, the EFCC had announced plans to auction over 850 seized vehicles across various locations in the country, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano. The auction, it stated, was in accordance with the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery & Management) Act, 2022.
However, what was meant to be a transparent sale of confiscated assets has now turned into a scandal, with bidders claiming that the winners were pre-selected and that bid prices were altered post-auction to favour certain individuals.
Bidders Cry Foul: “EFCC Rigged the Auction!”
Several bidders took to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration and provide evidence of alleged fraud.
One bidder, Austin Dakor, accused the EFCC’s auctioneer, Areogun Resources Nigeria Ltd, of manipulating bids after they had closed.
“@officialEFCC The manipulation in the recent car auction by Areogun Resources Nig Ltd is blatant! Winning bids were altered on their website after bidding closed. Follow the thread for screenshots. Transparency is demanded,” Dakor wrote.
Another bidder, Daniel Momoh, detailed how he won four different vehicles at competitive prices, only to be denied ownership.
> “It’s a pity that you & your auctioneer cheated us out of a legitimate process we engaged in yesterday. I won four different vehicles:
Toyota Venza – ₦2,670,000
Lexus ES350 – ₦2,000,000
Lexus IS250 – ₦2,520,000
Toyota Camry – ₦1,500,000
But after the auction, everything was manipulated!”
The most shocking allegation came from Baron El’Sama, who pointed out what he believes to be a deliberate ploy to lock out genuine bidders.
> “The auction you conducted yesterday was a sham! In a bid to rig the system, the incompetent auctioneers you engaged allowed a bid of ₦350 billion for a Lexus RX 350 Jeep. It’s not a glitch. It’s a deliberate attempt to gate-keep others from bidding.”
With mounting evidence and public outcry, Nigerians are demanding an immediate investigation into the EFCC’s auction process. Many are calling for independent oversight to ensure that future auctions are transparent, fair, and free from corruption.
As of now, the EFCC is yet to respond to these damning allegations. However, given the gravity of the claims, all eyes are on the agency to see whether it will address the controversy or allow the scandal to further erode public trust in its fight against corruption.
Will the EFCC clear the air, or will this auction scandal expose deeper corruption within the agency itself? Nigerians await answers.
PIONEER NEWS 