The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA) conducted a public auction of forfeited houses on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, which were either acquired through the proceeds of drug trafficking or used as an instrument in committing the crime.
The exercise, which took place at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja, had in attendance pre-qualified auctioneers, bidders, representatives of civil society organisations, the media, and other government agencies.
Speaking on the occasion, the NDLEA Chairman/CEO, retired Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa, said the exercise forms part of the Agency’s strategic efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks by depriving offenders of both liberty and illicit wealth, in strict compliance with legal frameworks and due process.
He reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to pursue drug offenders not only through prosecution but also by targeting all assets acquired through proceeds of crime.
“This auction is part of our broader commitment to transparency and justice. 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,” Marwa, represented by the agency’s Secretary, Mr Shadrack Haruna.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by Mr Femi Babafemi, the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, and emailed to Persecondnews, the auction involved eight forfeited properties across Lagos, Kano, Ondo, and Ogun.
The statement reads: “Two of the houses located in Lekki and Ikorodu areas of Lagos were stepped down from the process due to notices of appeal received after the processes had begun.
“Six other properties were auctioned to pre-qualified bidders, with only two sold at over N139 million following successful bids above their reserved prices. Others either failed to receive any bids or attracted offers below the benchmark.”
Speaking at the bidding exercise, Umar Yakubu of the Centre for Transparency and Integrity Watch commended the NDLEA for conducting a process that was open, credible and compliant with international best practices.
He remarked that the level of transparency observed was commendable and reflective of a strong institutional culture prioritising public accountability, and further encouraged the agency to amplify such efforts as a public education tool to underscore the consequences of drug crimes.
In his remarks, the Director of Proceeds of Crime Management at the NDLEA, Jerry Iorwa Aernan, said the participating auctioneers were pre-qualified by the Bureau of Public Procurement(BPP) and had met the required integrity checks to ensure that the disposed assets did not find their way back to the original owners through the back door.
He said successful bidders must pay 10% of their bid value within 14 days to confirm their interest, while the full payment is expected within a stipulated timeframe.
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