The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recorded 26 successful bidders on the third day of the auction for the forfeited properties.
These bidders won the auction for a variety of properties, including real estate with apartments and land plots.
Wilson Uwujaren, a spokesman for the EFCC, stated at the meeting on Thursday that a total of 39 properties in Lot 5, spread across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were put up for auction.
On Thursday, the exercise, which started at 10 am, lasted until 8:30 pm.
Uwujaren added, “At the end of the exercise, a total of 26 bids were successful, while 13 properties not taken either for non-compliance with the guidelines or the highest bid falling short of the reserve price, or due to a tie as was the case in respect of the property listed as number 33 in the Lot, were re-opened to fresh bids until Monday, 16 January 2023 when the bids will be opened. Other properties affected by this fresh bid offer are listed as numbers: 1, 3, 4,5,6,10,15, 18,29,30,31 and 34 in Lot 5.”
Meanwhile, chairman of EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, who witnessed the exercise, expressed excitement at the well-organised and coordinated event, thanking the bidders for their cooperation.
“The process we are adopting is what is practiced across the world. We had Valuers who valued the properties and we already know the worth of each property and we expect to sell to the highest bidder who exceeds our reserve price because we need to raise money for the federal government to execute and complete some of the major infrastructure projects across the country. We got feedback from people who are asking why we are not doing it online so that more people can participate. We have tried all of that and it is now left for us to use discretion to work with methods that will help the process to be more transparent for every Nigerian to see,” he said.
One of the bid winners, Chetanna Chukwudo, commended the Commission for a job well-done and urged it to keep up with the good work as Nigerians expect a lot from her.
He said, “I am happy today because it feels good to be a winner, nobody wants to lose. The process was thorough and transparent but in the end we won. I want to say well-done to the organisers.”