The National President of the Nigerian Association of Auctioneers, Alhaji Musa Kurra, has accused officials of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation of orchestrating a coordinated scheme to illegally evacuate multi-million-naira government assets from the Farin Ruwa Hydro Power Project in Nasarawa State—describing the situation as a “growing national legal crisis.”
According to documents released by Kurra, Justice Mustapha A. Ramat of the Nasarawa State High Court issued a restraining order on November 25, 2025, prohibiting any movement, auction, or removal of equipment from the project site. The court warned that any further asset evacuation would constitute a criminal offense. Following the ruling, the Registrar of the High Court formally notified the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), directing them to enforce the order without delay.
NSCDC Intercepts Heavy-Duty Equipment
Acting on the court’s directive, the NSCDC intercepted a heavy-duty “D9” machine that was being moved out of the Farin Ruwa project in violation of the order. The equipment has since been secured within the High Court premises, and several suspects connected to the attempted removal have been detained.
Nighttime Attempt to Retrieve Seized Asset Sparks Tension
Tensions heightened on the night of December 4 when unidentified military personnel reportedly stormed the High Court premises in an attempt to forcibly recover the seized D9 machine. NSCDC officers and local community members confronted the intruders, thwarting the operation near Akwanga. The attempted nighttime retrieval has fueled public suspicions about the scale and secrecy of the alleged asset diversion.
Kurra described the situation as “a dangerous pattern of total disrespect for the law,” asserting that ministry officials appear determined to flout judicial directives and established procedures. He added that eyewitnesses have reported continued efforts to remove machinery from the site despite the subsisting restraining order.
No Records, No Valuation, No TSA Payments—Auctioneers Raise Red Flags
The Auctioneers Association also expressed alarm over what it called a “complete breakdown of transparency,” noting that the movement of equipment is taking place without valuation reports, auction records, payment receipts, or evidence of remittances into the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Such omissions, Kurra warned, suggest an organized diversion of public assets for private benefit.
He emphasized that the alleged conduct violates Sections 55 and 56 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007, which require transparent disposal of public property through competitive processes and the use of licensed auctioneers.
Undermining Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda
According to Kurra, the actions of ministry officials undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to the rule of law. “Disregarding court orders and procurement regulations sends a dangerous signal that corruption can thrive even within federal agencies,” he warned.
He commended the Nasarawa State High Court for its decisive intervention and praised the NSCDC for its swift enforcement of the judicial order and its resistance to pressure during the attempted nighttime operation. Kurra called for continued vigilance by security agencies and the judiciary to safeguard public assets and restore confidence in government institutions.
