The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a successful outcome from its ongoing e-auction, raking in a substantial N556.74 million from the sale of 462 impounded vehicles.
Dismissing rumours of impropriety, the NCS refuted claims by the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) 100 Compliance team, which had accused the e-auction committee of engaging in a monumental fraud.
According to Alhaji Tanko Ibrahim, the National Coordinator of the Compliance Team, the committee allegedly allotted over 300 impounded vehicles to a single individual at the remarkably low rate of N10,000 per vehicle.
However, the NCS National Public Relations Officer, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, countered these accusations in a statement, revealing that 13,605 applicants registered on the e-auction portal during five successful bidding windows.
Out of the 476 impounded vehicles uploaded, 462 found new owners, resulting in a revenue of N556,738,736 for the government.
Maiwada strongly denied any fraudulent activities or underhand dealings within the e-auction process, emphasizing the NCS’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
He expressed concern over the serious allegations, asserting that the NCS operates within the confines of the law, adhering strictly to established guidelines for disposing of seized/overtime goods.
In response to claims of allotting vehicles to a single individual, Maiwada stated, “This is entirely false, misguided, and spurious.” He also refuted the suggestion of a token sum of N10,000 collected as duties, emphasizing that such claims were misleading and a misrepresentation of facts.
The NCS reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining a high level of integrity in the ongoing e-auction process, designed to provide a fair playing field for all Nigerians.
