*** We are legitimate, let opposing faction publish its court judgments – Kurra

 

The National President of the Nigeria Auctioneers Association (NAA), Alhaji Musa Kurra, on Thursday, alleged that some government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) are violating due process in the disposal of seized and public properties.

The NAA president said the relevant laws require government agencies that seize or forfeit properties to engage qualified valuers to determine their worth and appoint licensed auctioneers to dispose of the properties to the public.

Kurra disclosed this in Abuja during a press briefing, saying that the agencies such as Customs should comply with the provisions of the law rather than creating internal structures to conduct auctions.

He alleged that some auction exercises had resulted in properties being sold at values that did not reflect their worth, thereby depriving the government of revenue.

He specifically accused the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) of conducting auctions through what he described as an illegal “Direct Auction Administration Department,” insisting that auctioneering must be conducted in accordance with the law and through licensed auctioneers.

He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate the alleged practices, warning that they could tarnish the image of the administration and lead to significant revenue losses.

He said: “Most ministries and agencies have become auctioneers on their own. They don’t care about the due process anymore. This is not good for the government. There are a lot of properties worth billions, if not trillions, of naira that are being wasted.

“It is our job to generate money for the government, to go out there and auction these properties and make money for the government. But these people have taken over our jobs. So, what I am basically saying is that if anybody wants to become an auctioneer, the door is open. But you cannot be a civil servant and also want to be an auctioneer at the same time. This is exactly what is going on.

“So, the President should know, and he should find out whether anything I am saying is true. I can give you documents to trace my points. I am not just saying it; I have facts.”

On the leadership dispute within the association, Kurra said there was no ambiguity over the legitimacy of his administration, citing a judgment of the National Industrial Court in Bauchi which, according to him, directed the association to hold an Annual General Meeting and conduct an election.

He urged members of the association to allow the law to take its course, noting that another election would be held in 2027.

He added, “As far as the leadership of the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers is concerned, I don’t think there is any dispute. One of the documents I showed you was the court judgment that emanated from the National Industrial Court in Bauchi, which gave us an order to go and hold an AGM and conduct an election.

“We did that in Abuja on October 20, 2020, and the tenure is for four years. That judgment has not been challenged anywhere or at any time. It has not been challenged and it has not been appealed against. So, as far as we are concerned, the judgment subsists.

“The election that took place in Ibadan has not been challenged, so it subsists. Anybody parading himself or herself in any position regarding the executive of this association is an impostor. We know, and the public knows, who the genuine executives of the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers are under my leadership.”

Kurra said the matter was still pending before the court and was expected to come up in November.

He also addressed a separate judgment obtained by the opposing group from the lower courts up to the Supreme Court, explaining that the case centred on the power of trustees to appoint a caretaker committee.

He said the development amounted to contempt of court and disclosed that his lawyers had been instructed to commence contempt proceedings.

He said the development amounted to contempt of court and disclosed that his lawyers had been instructed to commence contempt proceedings.

The NAA president maintained that his faction was legitimate and challenged the opposing group to publish its court judgments, adding that, “As far as we are concerned, we are legitimate. We have legitimacy. If anybody is in doubt of our legitimacy, the person can go to the National Industrial Court and find out whether there was a judgment that dissolved them or not.”

He alleged that the opposing group had continued to present itself to government ministries and agencies as the executive of the association, describing the move as an attempt to impose itself on the association.