EFCC acknowledges car auction glitches, promises review

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EFCC acknowledges car auction glitches, promises review

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has pledged to review complaints regarding its recent public auction of forfeited vehicles, following reports of unsatisfactory experiences from some participants.

The commission acknowledged a range of complaints, including difficulties with website accessibility, bidders being shut out after submitting their bids, and allegations of inflated bid prices.

EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, addressed the concerns in a statement on Thursday, stating, “The complaints arising from this exercise are unfortunate. The online auction platform was meant to ensure smooth and transparent participation, but issues like over four million participants and unstable internet services affected the process.”

Oyewale confirmed that the EFCC monitored the auction, which took place between January 20 and 27, 2025, and acknowledged that glitches did occur.

READ ALSO: EFCC, bidders clash over disputed car auction

“The commission has received feedback about the negative experiences of some Nigerians who took part in the auction. Complaints included being unable to access the auction websites, being locked out after placing bids, and encountering excessively high bid prices,” he said.

While the EFCC played a role in overseeing the auction, Oyewale clarified that it could not directly intervene in the process, as the auction was handled by licensed auctioneers in line with the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, and the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

The EFCC assured the public that it was awaiting a full report from the auctioneers and would review any legitimate complaints to ensure fairness.

“It is possible that the large number of participants—over four million—may have overwhelmed the auction platforms, and unstable internet services in parts of the country worsened the situation,” Oyewale explained. “However, the commission will carefully consider any genuine complaints and ensure that no one is unfairly treated.”

The EFCC also emphasized that successful bidders who did not encounter issues would receive their vehicles as scheduled.

“The commission’s primary interest in this public auction is to ensure the assets are sold transparently, and that the nation receives fair value for them. This will not be compromised under any circumstances,” Oyewale concluded.

The auction, conducted by accredited auctioneers on behalf of the EFCC, was part of efforts to dispose of assets recovered in investigations into corruption, money laundering, and cybercrime. However, many bidders expressed dissatisfaction on social media, citing problems such as being locked out of auction sites, glitches during the event, and questions over inflated bid prices.

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