The EFCC's recent car auction has sparked protests over alleged irregularities. Bidders claim inflated bids and technical issues disrupted the process. EFCC responded, stating they were not involved in the auction, which was handled by licensed auctioneers. The auction featured over 850 cars forfeited from financial crimes.
The recent car auction organized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sparked controversy, as several bidders raised concerns about irregularities during the process. The auction, which took place from January 20 to January 27, 2025, featured over 850 vehicles forfeited to the Federal Government.
Bidders took to social media, alleging that inflated bids were intentionally placed to sabotage the process. Some participants reported being locked out of their accounts or seeing their winning bids replaced by others. For instance, one bidder, Daniel Momoh, claimed that his successful bids for four vehicles were reversed without explanation. Other bidders also reported technical issues, including website errors and sudden disappearances of auctioned cars from the site.
In response, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale clarified that the agency was not directly involved in the auction process, as it was managed by government-licensed auctioneers. He suggested that some participants may have deliberately inflated bid amounts to disrupt the auction. The EFCC denied any interference, urging the public to provide evidence of any misconduct.
Despite these claims, many bidders defended the transparency of the auction, stating that it was conducted electronically with open bidding. The EFCC has promised to look into the allegations but insisted that the process was fair and by legal guidelines.
The auction, which included a mix of luxury and mid-range vehicles, was part of the EFCC's efforts to recover proceeds from financial crimes such as money laundering and corruption.
