The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has listed the requirements to participate successfully in the auction of seized properties.
The properties across the country are all subject of final forfeiture orders, spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren said on Thursday, December 29, 2022.
His statement noted that interested persons and organizations have until noon Monday, 9th January 2023 to submit bids.
The bidding is open to all members of the public except individuals and companies under probe or already prosecuted. Also, employees of the EFCC cannot take part.
Bid forms and verifying affidavits for individuals and companies can be downloaded from the EFCC website (www.efcc.gov.ng) under EFCC AUCTION.
The forms must be submitted alongside 10% of the bid amount in certified bank drafts payable to EFCC.
“If the sum exceeds N10 million, multiple certified bank drafts must be provided; drafts of unsuccessful bidders will be returned once the bidding process is concluded”, Uwujaren explained.
A successful bidder will be required to pay the 90% outstanding balance of the bid price within 15 working days of the bid submission deadline.
In the event of default, the 10% deposit becomes non-refundable and the properties can be offered to other buyers. Payments shall be made to EFCC through Remita.
The EFCC said individuals occupying the forfeited properties may be given the Right of First Refusal provided they have a valid tenancy agreement, have paid rent up to date, and complete an Expression of Interest, EOI, Form on its website.
Bids for properties must be sealed and submitted to the EFCC at Plot 301/302 Institutions and Research District, Jabi, Abuja.
Bidders are to be present at the Convocation Ground, National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, opposite EFCC Headquarters in Jabi from January 9 to 13.
The properties consist of 61 units of luxury apartments, plots of land, and apartments spread across Nigeria.
They include 24 units of blocks of flats at Banana Island, Lagos; 21 units of luxury terrace and block of flats at Thornburn, Yaba, Lagos; 16 units of four-bedroom terrace duplexes at Heritage Court Estate, Port Harcourt.
Others are apartments and plots of land in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Delta, Cross River, Osun, Oyo, Edo, Anambra, Ebonyi, Gombe, and hotels, plaza, and apartments in Kwara.
Court Orders EFCC To Refund N124 Million To Oil Firm Wrongly Accused Of Subsidy Scams
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to return the sum of N124 million to an oil company that was wrongly accused of engaging in subsidy scam.
The court, in a judgement that was delivered by Justice S.C. Oriji, quashed 11-count charge the anti-graft agency preferred against the company and its Directors, Abiodun Ponnle and Adetoye Adegbite.
Justice Oriji held that the prosecution failed to establish the allegation that the defendants discharged 6,784.921 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, as opposed to the 14,208.908 metric tons over which subsidy was paid.
According to the court, evidence before it established that the volume of PMS that was discharged by Mr Ponnle and Mr Adegbite, through their company, Origin Oil & Gas Ltd, at the Lister Jetty Terminal, was 14,208.908 metric tons.
It will be recalled that the EFCC had moved against some oil marketers, including the defendants, for allegedly claiming and processing excess subsidy payment that was far more than what was legitimately due to them.
In a bid to recover the alleged excess subsidy payment, the EFCC entered a criminal charge marked CR/50/2016, against the defendants.
The charge was later amended on March 24, 2017, while the defendants pleaded not guilty before trial Justice Oriji on March 30, 2017.
Specifically, the charge against them bordered on criminal conspiracy, conspiracy to obtain money under false pretence and obtaining money under false pretence, contrary to Section 1(i) (a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 97 of the Penal Code Act; as well as the offence of forgery and using of forged document as genuine, contrary to Sections 364 and 366 of the Penal Code Act.
Determined to nail the defendants to the charge, the prosecution, which closed its case on February ,19, 2020, called a total of five witnesses that testified before the court.
On their part, the defendants, entered a no-case-submission, insisting that EFCC failed to adduce sufficient efficient capable of ensuring their conviction before any competent court.
They contended that the proof of evidence did not establish a prima-facie case against them.
However, the court, while dismissing the no-case-submission on November 10, 2020, ordered the defendants to open their defence.
Following the order of the court, the defendants called four witnesses that included the 1st defendant who testified as the DW3 and a forensic expert.
In his judgement on the matter, Justice Oriji, held that the prosecution failed to by way of a convincing evidence, prove the allegations it levelled against the defendants, beyond a reasonable doubt.
Consequently, the court discharged and acquitted the defendants of the 11-count charge against them.
It directed that the sum of N124 million recovered from the defendants during the course of investigation, be returned to them on/before December 31, 2022; the defendants, having not been found guilty of any of the offences contained in the amended charge.
