Auctioneers in Oyo State under the aegis of the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers have lodged an official complaint to Governor Seyi Makinde over what they describe as the ‘illegal sales’ of vehicles by the state’s transport company.
In a letter signed by their legal representative, Ranti Ajeleti, the association alleged that even though they regularly pay their dues and taxes to the state government, “when there is a business specifically designed by law to be handled by Licensed Auctioneers, such business is cleverly diverted by civil servants and sold by private arrangements at giveaway prices.
“A case in point is the recent disposal of several disused vehicles including TCTC long buses, small buses, cars. The vehicles including those taken from MDA offices all over the state were assembled at TCTC office, Eleyele ostensibly for ‘save keeping’.
“As we write today the vehicles are no longer there; they have been sold to private individuals by a political appointee with the connivance of certain civil servants. The action is strictly illegal because such sales can only be done by our clients.
“Our clients will strongly take exception to such a similar occurrence happening to the pending exercise at the board of survey; governor’s office which is already at advanced stage.”
They added that the governor must intervene to put a stop to the “undue embarrassment” that these actions represent.
