Marwa: Asset seizures serve as punishment and deterrence
In a decisive move against the proceeds of drug trafficking, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has auctioned several properties forfeited by convicted traffickers in Lagos, Kano, Ondo, and Ogun States.
The public auction, which held yesterday at the NDLEA National Headquarters in Abuja, was witnessed by pre-qualified auctioneers, prospective bidders, civil society organisations, media representatives, and officials from relevant government agencies.
NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), who was represented by the Agency’s Secretary, Mr Shadrack Haruna, said the exercise formed part of a broader strategy to weaken drug trafficking networks by depriving them of their financial incentives.
“This auction is part of our broader commitment to transparency and justice,” Marwa stated. “Beyond prosecuting drug offenders, we are committed to ensuring that the financial incentives that drive these crimes are neutralised through legal forfeiture. This serves as both punishment and deterrence. When drug traffickers know they stand to lose everything, including their ill-gotten assets, it sends a stronger message than imprisonment alone.”
The auction featured eight properties, with six ultimately placed under the hammer. Two Lagos-based properties — located in Lekki and Ikorodu — were removed from the process following the receipt of notices of appeal. The remaining properties were auctioned to pre-qualified bidders, though only two were successfully sold for a combined sum exceeding ₦139 million after surpassing their reserve prices. Other properties either attracted no bids or offers below their benchmark valuations.
Director of Proceeds of Crime Management, Mr Jerry Aernan, assured that all participating auctioneers were pre-qualified by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and had undergone stringent integrity screening. He stressed that successful bidders are required to pay 10 per cent of their winning bids within 14 days, with full payment expected within a stipulated timeframe.
In a commendation of the process, Mr Umar Yakubu of the Centre for Transparency and Integrity Watch hailed the NDLEA for conducting a transparent and credible auction in line with global standards. He encouraged the agency to leverage such exercises as public awareness tools to highlight the consequences of drug trafficking and associated crimes.
