The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday, 29th July 2025, conducted a public auction of properties forfeited by convicted drug traffickers in Lagos, Kano, Ondo, and Ogun States.
The auction, held at the Agency’s National Headquarters in Abuja, featured the sale of six properties out of eight listed. Two properties in Lekki and Ikorodu, Lagos, were stepped down due to pending appeals. Among those auctioned, two were sold above their reserved prices for a total exceeding ₦139 million, while others received no valid bids.
Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), represented by the Agency Secretary, Mr. Shadrack Haruna, said the auction was part of efforts to weaken drug trafficking networks by stripping criminals of their assets.
“This initiative not only punishes offenders but serves as a deterrent. Drug traffickers must understand that they risk losing everything, not just their freedom,” he said.
The auction process, conducted in the presence of civil society groups, media, and other government agencies, was commended by Umar Yakubu of the Centre for Transparency and Integrity Watch, who described it as transparent and credible.
NDLEA’s Director of Proceeds of Crime Management, Jerry Iorwa Aernan, emphasized that all participating auctioneers were pre-qualified by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and subjected to integrity checks to ensure accountability.
Successful bidders are expected to pay 10% of their bid value within 14 days, and complete payment within a stipulated timeframe.
