The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has refuted allegations of irregularities in its recent nationwide car auction.
Following the auction held between Monday, January 20 and Monday, January 27, 2025, some bidders took to social media to share concerns over unusually high bids, ranging from ₦1 billion to ₦330 billion for mid-range Lexus SUVs.
One bidder, Daniel Momoh, alleged on X.com that vehicles he had won were reassigned to other buyers, blocking his account access. Similarly, another bidder, #Kennylekel, claimed the auction website crashed 43 minutes before the auction’s conclusion.
Other social media users accused the EFCC of favouring internal staff and associates, with one alleging, “The auction was a sham! Bids of ₦350 billion for a Lexus RX 350 Jeep were allowed to prevent fair competition.”
Another bidder stated, “A C300 I won at ₦5,570,001 disappeared from the site,” while some raised concerns about collusion between high bidders and so-called “short bidders” to manipulate prices.
However, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale dismissed the claims, stating that the auction was conducted by government-licensed auctioneers, not the EFCC.
He suggested that certain individuals may have deliberately placed excessive bids to sabotage the process. “It is between the auctioneers and the bidding public; we did not interfere at all,” he emphasised.
Oyewale further challenged critics to provide proof of any wrongdoing, adding that even his close associates could not use his influence to secure a vehicle.
The EFCC had previously announced the auction of over 850 government-forfeited vehicles, including luxury and mid-range models, recovered during investigations into financial crimes such as corruption, money laundering, and cybercrime.
The commission assured the public that the auction adhered to legal frameworks, including the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004, the Public Procurement Act 2007, and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery & Management) Act 2022.
The auction was conducted in multiple locations, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano, with the EFCC maintaining that the process was transparent and fair.
