Potential buyers have been exercising caution in purchasing some of the properties put up for sale by the super rich civil servants in the country.

Saturday PUNCH learnt that the buyers were reluctant to pay for the properties because of the fear that the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission might trace the structures to them following the ongoing probe of the suspected looters of public funds.

The ICPC had reportedly confiscated some buildings owned by public servants whose earnings were said not to support ownership of such structures. Some of the civil servants had thronged estate agents’ offices in Abuja to aid the sale of the properties.

Estate agents had said the development could be attributed to the ongoing probe of some public officials for alleged looting and the resultant confiscation of their properties by the ICPC.

Findings, however, showed that despite the fact that most of the properties offered for sale were below their market value, buyers were skeptical of purchasing them.

An Abuja-based estate agent, who simply gave his name as Akinjise, told our correspondent on Friday that his firm had been contacted by some of the civil servants for the purpose of helping them to sell their properties.

Akinjise said the buyers’ fears rose following insinuation that the anti-corruption agency might confiscate the property if they were eventually traced to them.

He said, “It is true that people have been coming to our office seeking information on properties, especially buildings, available for sale, but they are being cautious in paying for them. Some of the buyers even sent their lawyers to us to help them investigate the circumstances surrounding the plan to sell the properties.”

An estate surveyor, Mr. Dipo Fakorede, said the buyers were reluctant to purchase the structures due to the likely litigation that might result from their acquisition.

He added that those selling the properties should also hand the properties over to the actual buyers unlike what obtains at the moment whereby a buyer would have to take the responsibility for possession.

Fakorede said, “It is true that there is some reluctance on the part of property buyers because people are being careful because these are properties recovered from people and organisations by the government, so people are being very careful before they buy them.

“Ideally, the sellers should give the buyers the occupation of the properties. But with the way things work in Nigeria, it doesn’t happen like that, hence, the buyers have to fight for the possession. You could have a situation whereby some tenants in the properties do not want to leave even if you tell them to, as the new owner, so, it is always difficult to take possession, and that is why such cases end up in court.”

http://www.punchng.com/news/probe-buyers-shun-rich-civil-servants-properties/

It is certainly very risky.

Buy but no pay

na now u go see house for minister's hill drop from 150m to 60m

Hmmmm

In 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections, PDP used all forms of propganda against Buhari. They said he will islamize Nigeria, he will send all Nigerians to jail, and even subject them to inhuman behavior.

Fastward to this day, the only people that are crying and getting hospitalized are not the ordinary Nigerians that were deceived for 12 years but the PDP and their loyalists who have looted the country and are scared of a day when they will be asked to account for their stewardship

If Buhari is never going to eradicate corruption completely, I'm most certainly it will be reduced to a minimum where public office holders will have to accept that a new boss is in town and he doesn't tolerate nonsense.

Any money or properties that can't be duly justified should be confiscated and shared/sold to the masses as part of dividends of democracy.

Yeye people

Buy at your own risk. The civil servants should remember to put that in the agreement so that when things go down, you won't complain of not being aware that it's a stolen property. House go sweet to buy for Abuja now sha

Potential EFCC properties, you buy them now and the next moment EFCC officials are knocking on your door.