Auctioneers caution AGF against fake practitioners

Nigeria Association of Auctioneers (NAA) has urged the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to engage the services of verifiable professional auctioneers in the sale of all recovered and forfeited assets to the Federal Government.

The association, in a letter to the AGF, signed by its President, Aliyu Kiliya, insisted that the government should always use professionals with wide knowledge and experience. The body noted: “The Ministry of Justice must invite auctioneers with relevant documents and long term experience as stipulated by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to handle the sale of recovered assets by open and competitive bidding, to ensure transparency and accountability in the process because there are technicalities involved.

“The auctioneers can generate more revenue from the highest bidders whom they will invite from far and near because our role is to protect the image of government and the interest of the general public to avoid litigation.”According to the body, the call became imperative because most of the items to be auctioned have gone through litigation.

“We have people of good reputation and long term experience, those we can checkmate their activities in handling auction sales,” it added.“A lot of things must be considered because of the technicalities involved in the auctioneering business, care must be taken in engaging any person for the disposal of the recovered and forfeited assets,” it added.

The association warned those parading as auctioneers without relevant documents as stipulated by BPP Act 2007 and those are not properly registered with the body headed by Kiliya to desist from it.

“The international community and Nigerians are watching. The right thing must be done to avoid a very bad outcome of the sales now that our appeal to the Federal Government to sell all recovered and forfeited assets has been accepted as well as our recommendation to the Ministry of Justice to take charge of the sales.”

NAA noted that its members would ensure transparency in the sale of the public assets and commended President Muhammadu Buhari for choosing the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation for the job.