NDLEA Auctions Lagos Hotel, 3 Other Forfeited Properties for N6.1B
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has auctioned a Lagos hotel and three other properties forfeited by convicted drug kingpins through valid court orders.
The NDLEA said the hotel and the other properties were auctioned for Six Billion One Hundred and Forty-Eight Million Nine Hundred and Sixty-Four Thousand Naira.
TOPE OJO and TUNDE OLONISHAKIN were announced as winners of the six-floor hotel located in Victoria, Island Lagos, with a Five-Point-Nine-Billion-Naira offer.
The Head of Asset Recovery and Management Unit of the Federal Ministry of Justice, TAMARANTARE FRANCIS ALI-BOZI announced the winners at the bid opening ceremony, held at the NDLEA headquarters in Abuja.
The ceremony was witnessed by representatives of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and representatives of Civil Society Organisations, among others.
Confirming the development in a statement, the NDLEA spokesman, FEMI BABAFEMI said the auction followed a competitive bidding process for the sale of eight assets forfeited by drug barons in different parts of the country.
Other winners include FSS Limited which won a property at Lekki Phase 1, Lagos for Tw Hundred and Nineteen-Point-Five Million Naira.
Similarly, A-BNB Global Innovations Limited won the bid for a block of flats located in Ejigbo, Lagos State, for One Hundred and Four Million Naira. Fazeen Global Link Limited which won a property in Akure, Ondo state for N29,360,000.00.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, retired Brigadier General MOHAMED BUBA MARWA, was represented at the ceremony by the agency’s Secretary, SHADRACH HARUNA.
In his remarks; HARUNA noted that public auctions such as the one done by the NDLEA serve a broader national purpose of reinforcing confidence in the rule of law and accountability and the management of recovered assets, beyond generating revenue for the government.
HARUNA said it also “sends a clear message that criminal proceeds will not be allowed to remain in the hands of those who seek to profit from the misery and destruction caused by illicit drugs.”
He assured that “the Agency remains steadfast in its determination to strengthen Nigeria’s asset recovery framework and to ensure that recovered assets are managed and disposed of in a manner that is transparent, lawful and beneficial to the public interest”, adding that “We shall continue to pursue drug traffickers, dismantle criminal networks, recover the proceeds of crime and uphold the rule of law without fear or favour.”
Speaking on the integrity of the process, the NDLEA boss stated that “to further enhance transparency and public confidence in the process, representatives of sister law enforcement and regulatory agencies, civil society organisations, the media, prospective bidders and members of the public have been invited to witness the bid-opening exercise. The bids received for each lot will be evaluated against the approved reserve price, and the highest responsive bidder who satisfies all requisite conditions shall be declared the successful bidder. The entire process will be conducted openly, fairly and transparently in the presence of all attendees.”
“The process culminating in today’s auction has been conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act, 2022, the Public Procurement Act, 2007, and all other applicable laws, regulations and guidelines. Consistent with the Agency’s commitment to transparency, accountability and due process, all assets earmarked for auction were professionally valued by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the designated official valuer of the Federal Government.
“Furthermore, the Agency undertook extensive due diligence and security screening of all auctioneers pre-qualified by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). We are satisfied that none of the auctioneers engaged in this process has any known involvement in drug-related offences or any other criminal activity capable of compromising the objectives of the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act or the integrity of this exercise”, he added.