The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) says it has commenced the process to auction landed properties and chattels belonging to the defunct Heritage Bank, which is currently in liquidation.
The NDIC said on Sunday that the exercise was pursuant to its statutory powers as the Liquidator of failed banks under Section 62 (1)(d) of the NDIC Act, 2023.
The Corporation said this was a follow up action sequel to disposal of physical assets and chattels belonging to the defunct bank at its leased locations nationwide as part of efforts to ensure timely declaration of liquidation dividends to uninsured depositors of the failed Bank.
Consequently, it said the auction of the landed assets would be by competitive bidding in sealed bids schedule to take place at the six selected locations of the Corporation across the country, for the affected 36 branches of the failed bank beginning from Wednesday 4th December, 2024.
“Buyers who wish to participate in the auction are expected to follow laid down guidelines purposely aimed at ensuring transparency, fair competition, equity and accountability to enable recovery of commensurate values from the exercise. This is critical for the payment of liquidation dividends to eligible claimants,” it said in statement on Sunday.
The Corporation said it would give preference to financial institutions who were willing to buy at the highest auctioned value to allow for continuation of provision of banking services to the Nigerian public at the designated locations.
This, it said, was desirable towards bolstering financial inclusion as envisaged by the financial system regulatory authorities.
However, the statement said Corporate bodies and Private individuals willing to compete were equally eligible to compete in the process without prejudice, as the auction would be open and competitive to all bidders.
Also, it said bidders would be given the opportunity to inspect the properties and chattels across all locations one week prior to the date of disposal.
“All interested parties are to make available 10% bid security of the value of their sealed bids to be dropped in the bid box provided at the specific centre out of the six location of the Corporation as contained in the published advertisements.
“All interested bidders are advised to submit their bids only at the designated NDIC offices covering their choices amongst Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Kano, Enugu and Port Harcourt,” the statement said.
