NDLEA Rakes in ₦139 Million from Auction of Drug Traffickers’ Mansions in Lagos, Ogun, Kano

NDLEA Rakes in ₦139 Million from Auction of Drug Traffickers’ Mansions in Lagos, Ogun, Kano

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has successfully auctioned two out of eight forfeited properties linked to drug traffickers, earning ₦139 million from the public sale held at its headquarters in Abuja.

The properties, located across Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Kano states, were either acquired with proceeds of drug trafficking or used in the commission of the crimes. Six of the properties went under the hammer, while two others in Lekki and Ikorodu were withdrawn due to pending appeals.

The auction, which was observed by pre-qualified auctioneers, bidders, civil society representatives, the media, and other government agencies, is part of NDLEA’s effort to combat drug crimes by stripping offenders of their illegally acquired wealth.

NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (Retd.), represented by agency Secretary Mr. Shadrack Haruna, emphasized the strategic goal behind the forfeitures.

He stated:

“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 neutralized 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.”

Only two of the six auctioned properties fetched offers above the reserved prices, with others either attracting no bids or falling below the benchmark.

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Umar Yakubu from the Centre for Transparency and Integrity Watch praised the process as “open, credible and compliant with international best practices,” and encouraged NDLEA to use such events as public enlightenment tools to deter drug crimes.

NDLEA Director of Proceeds of Crime Management, Jerry Iorwa Aernan, clarified that all participating auctioneers were vetted by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and had undergone integrity checks to avoid asset recovery by former owners.

He also stated that successful bidders must pay a 10% deposit within 14 days and complete payment within the stipulated time to finalize ownership.