EFCC Denies Irregularities In Car Auction As Bidders Protest

• EFCC Denies Irregularities In Car Auction As Bidders Protest
• EFCC denies involvement, blames auctioneers for any discrepancies.
• Calls grow for an independent investigation into the auction process.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed allegations of irregularities in its recent nationwide car auction, following widespread protests from bidders who claimed they were cheated out of the process.

The auction, which ran from Monday, January 20, to Monday, January 27, 2025, saw vehicles put up for bidding in different locations across the country. However, many bidders have taken to social media to accuse the EFCC and its auctioneers of fraud and manipulation.

Following the conclusion of the auction, bidders shared screenshots of outrageous bid amounts, with some reporting figures as high as N330 billion for mid-range Lexus SUVs. Several participants alleged that their winning bids were suddenly replaced with other names, preventing them from accessing the vehicles they had successfully bid for.

A social media user, Daniel Momoh, expressed frustration on X.com, stating:

“Dear @officialEFCC, I won four different vehicles—Toyota Venza for N2,670,000, Lexus ES350 for N2,000,000, Lexus IS250 for N2,520,000, and Toyota Camry for N1,500,000—but I woke up to see my name replaced. Now I can’t access the website.”

Another bidder, identified as #Kennylekel, claimed that the auction website crashed mysteriously just before the bidding ended:

“EFCC, the website suddenly showed error 502 about 43 minutes to the end of the auction! We hope it’s not a ploy to select preferred bidders. I’ve been bidding since 11 a.m. Kindly respond.”

Others alleged that the auction was rigged to favor insiders, with CIA on X.com stating:

“This is just damage control. The cars were sold to EFCC staff and their associates at giveaway prices. If you later buy from them, you risk being accused of fraud.”

A user named Baron El’Sama described the auction as a sham, pointing out a suspicious bid of N350 billion for a Lexus RX 350:

“The incompetent auctioneers deliberately allowed an impossible bid to block others from participating.”

Several users urged the EFCC to investigate the allegations, with one bidder, Hafiz Bawa, accusing participants of colluding to manipulate prices.

“The highest bidder placed exaggerated bids knowing they wouldn’t pay, allowing a ‘short bidder’ to win at an inflated price,” Bawa alleged.

Another user, Tchalla Kingsman, added:

“I’ve seen at least seven people accuse @officialEFCC of fraud, yet no one has come forward to say they got a car they won. The commission isn’t addressing the crime.”

Reacting to the claims, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale denied any wrongdoing, stating that the auction was handled entirely by government-licensed auctioneers.

“It is between the auctioneers and the bidding public; we had no interference,” Oyewale said in a telephone interview.

He suggested that some bidders may have deliberately placed outrageous bids to disrupt the process, calling on those with evidence of fraud to present it.

“Even my close associates couldn’t get any special favors in the auction. If anyone has proof of compromise, let them come forward.”

The EFCC had previously announced the auctioning of over 850 forfeited vehicles, recovered during investigations into financial crimes, including corruption, money laundering, and cybercrime. The commission had promised a transparent process, in line with legal provisions, and conducted the auction in major cities, including Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Kano.

Despite the EFCC’s assurances, many bidders remain unconvinced, insisting that the process lacked transparency.

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