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BREAKING: EFCC Bows To Public Outrage, To Review Complaints Against Auctioneers

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,

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.”

 

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Fire Razes MTN Booster Station In Ibadan

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A fire outbreak in the early hours of Saturday, gutted an MTN booster station located within the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

The incident, which occurred around 4 a.m. at the Faculty of Nursing, was reportedly caused by an electrical surge.

Eyewitnesses said the fire damaged key telecommunications equipment, including a Mikano generator and electrical control board.

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Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser on Fire Services Reform to Governor Seyi Makinde and Chairman of the State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, said the Oyo State Fire Service responded swiftly to contain the blaze.

“The state Fire Service’s prompt response doused the fire at the MTN booster station beside the Faculty of Nursing, University of Ibadan,” Akinwande stated.

“The fire incident was reported exactly at 04:00 hrs on Saturday, February 22, 2025. The fire personnel, led by ACFS Olubunmi, were promptly deployed to the scene and arrived on time.

“On arrival, we met the Mikano electrical generator and board on fire. We quickly joined hands with the university’s fire marshals, and the fire was extinguished completely. The fire was caused by an electrical surge,” he explained.

No casualties were reported, but the extent of the damage to MTN’s operations remains unclear.

 

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Police Rescue Six Children In Lagos Building

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Police Investigate Mutilated, Headless Bodies Found In Ibadan

 

Six children, whose mother is suspected to be undergoing medicare abroad, have been rescued by from a building in the Ejigbo Area of Lagos State.

They were rescued by the Lagos State Police Command, according to a statement by its spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Saturday in Lagos.

The rescue, according to CSP Hundeyin followed a tip-off on Tuesday at about 12p.m., when the police received information that six children were staying alone in a building.

CSP Hundeyin said, “The case was transferred from the Ejigbo Police Station to the Gender Unit in Ikeja after reports indicated that the children were left alone in a residential house.

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“The children, aged between seven and 13 years, have been rescued and are currently in a protective shelter through the Ministry of Youth and Social Development.”

He added that initial findings revealed that their mother was currently abroad for medical treatment and had left them in the care of a caregiver.

CSP Hundeyin revealed that efforts were underway to contact their mother, while investigations were ongoing to gather more details about the case.

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AIT, Channels TV Apologize To DSS Over Lagos Assembly Crisis Report

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Two of Nigeria’s leading television stations, Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television, have publicly apologized to the Department of State Services (DSS) over their reports on the agency’s involvement in the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis on February 17, 2025.

The apologies come after the DSS threatened legal action against both media houses, accusing them of publishing false and misleading reports about its presence at the Assembly complex.

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The security agency had demanded a retraction and a public apology to be aired for three consecutive days.

AIT, during its News Hour program, clarified that its initial report was based on eyewitness accounts but admitted that the information was incomplete and misrepresented the DSS’s role.

“AIT News wishes to apologize to the DSS for the news item broadcast on Monday, 17th February 2025. Our reporting was based on eyewitness accounts obtained from sources at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

“However, we recognize that the report may have been incomplete and unintentionally misrepresented the service. We regret any embarrassment this may have caused,” the station stated.

Channels Television also offered an apology during its political affairs program, Politics Today, anchored by Seun Okinbaloye.

Okinbaloye acknowledged that the situation had been misinterpreted, as initial video footage suggested the DSS had stormed the Assembly uninvited, when in fact, its presence was requested by the Clerk of the House for security purposes.

“It came to light that the Clerk of the Lagos Assembly had formally requested the DSS’s presence at the House of Assembly. But if you look at the video, it was made to appear as though the lawmakers were fighting to get inside and were shocked that DSS was there,” he said.

“I think it’s right to apologize to the service to say the use of ‘invasion’ might not be the right word to use because it was portrayed as though the DSS invaded, they were not invited, but it came to light that there was no decency in how they carried out their work.”

“In the real sense of it, it happened that they invited the DSS. I think an apology is right to be placed on the doorstep of the DSS to say the use of ‘invasion’ is probably not the right word to use and not to demean the role and the effort of the DSS. That was not the right word to use,” he added.

The DSS had earlier refuted claims that its operatives engaged in any unlawful activities at the Assembly complex, insisting that their role was simply to support existing security forces.

Speaking on the issue, former DSS Assistant Director-General, Muhammed Ngoshe, who was a guest on Politics Today, welcomed the apologies but stressed the need for an official communication to the security agency.

 

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