NEWS
BREAKING: EFCC Bows To Public Outrage, To Review Complaints Against Auctioneers
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has acknowledged public outrage over its recent auction of vehicles recovered from culprits.
This was detailed in a statement on its verified handle on micro-blogging site, X, on Friday under the signature of its Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
Issued under the subject, ‘Auction of Vehicles: EFCC to Review Complaints Against Auctioneers’, the anti graft agency admitted “that there were glitches”.
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The Commission, however, maintained that those who managed overcome the glitches would be getting their allocation, regardless. “Those who follow through the process without glitches and emerged winners will certainly be allocated their vehicles,” it stated.
The statement reads, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, notes with concern the reported unsavoury experiences of some Nigerians who participated in the just concluded public auction of forfeited vehicles conducted by accredited auctioneers on behalf of the Commission.
“Among the complaints received by the Commission were the inability of some citizens to access the websites of the auctioneers, being shut out from the platforms after submitting bids and outrageous bid prices, among others.
“Relevant Departments of the Commission monitored the exercise and can confirm that there were glitches. This observation was communicated to the auctioneers for remedial action. The Commission could, however, not directly intervene while the exercise was ongoing because the process had been assigned to duly accredited and licensed auctioneers in line with provisions of Sections 4(a)(b) of the Proceeds of Crime ( Recovery and Management) Act, 2022 and Section 55 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.
“The complaints arising from the exercise are rather unfortunate and detracts from the plan of the Commission in settling for online auction which was designed to provide a platform for seamless and transparent participation by millions of Nigerians interested in purchasing the forfeited assets.
“Without making excuses for the auctioneers, it is possible that the sheer number of participants in the exercise (over 4million) perhaps stretched the carrying capacity of the online facilities of the auctioneers, while unstable internet service in parts of the country exacerbated the challenge.
“The Commission is currently awaiting the report of the auctioneers and assures that genuine complaints by members of the public will be reviewed to ensure that no one is short-changed in the exercise. Those who follow through the process without glitches and emerged winners will certainly be allocated their vehicles.
“The Commission’s only interest in the public auction is to ensure that the assets are disposed of in the most transparent manner and the nation gets value for the assets. This cannot be compromised under any circumstance.”
The Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) in Rivers State have been thrown into a state of anxiety following a directive from the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), ordering them to submit reports detailing the activities of their councils over the past two years.
The directive, issued through a letter from Dame Dr. Itong Awani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, mandates that the reports be submitted by Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
The sudden call for accountability has unsettled many LGA heads, particularly given the political backdrop in Rivers State.
Following the Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the 2024 local government elections, suspended Governor Siminialayi Fubara had directed the HLGAs to take over local government administration.
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Now, the administrator’s demand for a comprehensive report has sparked speculation about potential changes in the councils’ leadership.
The letter, which only became public on Wednesday, outlined specific areas the reports must cover. According to the directive, HLGAs must provide: Introduction/Preamble, Functions of the Council, Number of Staff on Nominal Roll (categorized by cadre), Sources of Revenue Generation, Activities, Ongoing, and Completed Projects in the Past Two Years, Achievements of the Council, Challenges and Recommendations.
The letter emphasized the urgency of compliance, stating: “His Excellency, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State has directed that all Heads of Local Government Administration should submit the report of their councils to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs.
“I am also to inform you that all submissions using the format listed below should reach the office of the undersigned on or before Wednesday, 26th March, 2025, for onward transmission to the office of the Sole Administrator, Government House, Port Harcourt for further necessary action.”
Additionally, the directive instructs LGA heads to highlight the challenges faced by their councils and provide recommendations on how to address them.
A fire outbreak on Tuesday night severely damaged a two-storey commercial building on Iweka Road, near Ochanja Main Market in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Anambra State Fire Service said it received a distress call at around 9:35 p.m. and immediately dispatched firefighters to the location.
Fire Chief Chukwudi Chiketa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the cause of the fire was yet to be determined.
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“We don’t know the exact cause of the fire, but we were called to respond, and we did,” he said.
He further disclosed that four shops, mainly dealing in furniture materials such as leather and foam, were affected.
“These shops contained furniture materials such as leather, foam, and other items,” he added.
The firefighting team worked tirelessly through the night, eventually withdrawing from the scene around 3:05 a.m.
In the aftermath, residents and traders gathered at the site, attempting to salvage whatever remained of their goods.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has declared a State of Emergency on public schools across the state.
This was contained in a government house statement in Benin City on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, who cited his principal as saying that “the schools are in very bad shapes”.
It was gathered that the Governor, made the declaration while on an inspection tour of some schools in Ikpoba-Okha and Egor Local Governments area of Edo South Senatorial District.
He lamented the sorry state of facilities in the schools located in urban areas and expressed displeasure over the state of the schools visited.
He said, “Edo children deserve a better schooling environment that will bring out the best in them.
Gov Okpebholo noted that while campaigning for the votes of the electorate, he promised to declare a State of Emergency on schools across Edo State that lack modern facilities and conducive environment for learning.
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He added that visiting Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area and Evbareke Secondary School in Egor Local Governments Area, he was not pleased with what he saw and had no choice but to begin his action from the schools.
“I feel very bad about the situation of the schools I inspected today. Look at the type of school that our children are attending; it is not acceptable at all.
“When I was campaigning, I told Edo people that I would declare a State of Emergency in our schools across the State. I will start from this school Evbareke secondary School in Egor Local Governments area and the previous one we inspected today, Army Day Secondary School in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, both in Edo South.
“We stopped on the road on our way to the school because erosion has cut off the road. This is not good for our children as we want the best for them.
“From tomorrow, work will commence here as the school visited has no fence, and the road leading to Army Day Secondary School has been washed off by erosion. We must give Edo children quality education to set them for the future.
“The road leading to Army Day Secondary School is known as Boundary Road, off Lucky Way. The road leads to Temboga.”
On his part, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Paddy Iyamu, said information got to the Ministry on the harsh conditions facing students of the school.
Iyamu said the Governor is visiting schools to see things for himself because he wants to feel the plight of the students and ensure that every Edo child has access to good structure and teachers in their schools.
“The Governor is here this morning to see for himself because he wants to feel the plight of the students of the average Edo child so that together we can all proffer solutions to the problem facing Edo schools. The Governor is here on practical governance to show Edo people they deserve the best.
“The Governor has given us the order to ensure that everybody in Edo State must have access to quality education whether they are able or physically challenged. The challenges are very obvious; dilapidated structures, with no chairs, in schools in urban areas. With the kind of governor Edo has, things will change,” Iyamu said.
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