Power struggle shakes Nigerian Auctioneers Association to its core

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A fresh leadership crisis has engulfed the Nigerian Auctioneers Association after two rival claimants laid claim to the presidency of the body, each accusing the other of illegally parading as the association’s leader and relying on separate court judgments to justify his claim.

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The dispute escalated following comments on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s electronic auction system, with the faction led by Alhaji Musa Kurra distancing the association from remarks credited to Benjamin Isibor and describing him as an impostor, while Isibor insisted he remained the authentic president based on court judgments.

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In a statement issued on Thursday, Kurra, who described himself as the duly elected president of the Nigerian Auctioneers Association, said recent media reports quoting Isibor as president of the association were misleading and did not represent the position of the organisation.

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The statement was titled, “Rebuttal: Newspaper Publications of July 27, 2026 – Impersonation of the Office of the President, Nigerian Auctioneers Association and Misrepresentation of NAA’s Position on EFCC Auctions.”

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Kurra maintained that he emerged president at the association’s National Delegates Conference held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on October 28, 2023, pursuant to an order of the National Industrial Court sitting in Bauchi.

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“The duly elected and bona fide President of the Nigerian Auctioneers Association is Alhaji Musa Kurra. Kurra was duly elected at the last NAA National Delegates Conference in Ibadan, Oyo State, on 28th October, 2023, for a period of four years. The Ibadan conference was a sequel to the order of the National Industrial Court, Bauchi, dated July 26, 2023, which mandated the NAA to conduct the election within three months and present the results to the presiding judge. Kurra emerged victorious, and his election was duly recognised and affirmed by the judicial authorities. Therefore, any person parading himself in any other capacity is doing so illegally.”

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The Kurra-led faction further alleged that Isibor neither occupied any executive office within the association nor enjoyed recognition from any of its organs.

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“We further state that the individual quoted in the said publication is not an elected leader or executive member of the Association, and is not recognised by any organ of NAA. By reason of the subsisting court order, contempt proceedings are currently ongoing against the said imposter at the National Industrial Court, Bauchi, for usurping the office of the President of NAA.”

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The faction also defended the EFCC’s electronic auction platform, commending the anti-graft agency for introducing reforms that it said had improved transparency in the disposal of forfeited assets.

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“NAA acknowledges and commends the EFCC leadership under Barr. Ola Olukoyede for its consistent efforts in conducting public auctions in a transparent, accountable, and digitised manner through the e-auction platform. This process was designed to eliminate sharp practices, broaden participation, and ensure value for money in the disposal of forfeited assets.”

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It added that any concerns raised during the early implementation of the platform had been resolved through collaboration between the association and the commission.

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“Where certain operational challenges were observed in the initial phases, NAA, in collaboration with the EFCC, engaged constructively and proffered professional recommendations. We are pleased to note that the necessary remedies have since been implemented by the Commission to strengthen the process. The views expressed by the imposter in the publications therefore do not, and cannot, represent the position of the Nigerian Auctioneers Association.”

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The association urged government agencies, financial institutions and members of the public to disregard statements issued by Isibor, insisting that only licensed auctioneers recognised by the association were authorised to conduct public auctions in Nigeria.

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However, when contacted by The PUNCH, Isibor dismissed Kurra’s claims, insisting that he remained the substantive president of the association following judgments delivered by the Federal Capital Territory High Court, the Court of Appeal and, ultimately, the Supreme Court.

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“Yes, I am the president. That issue (concerning leadership position) should be laid to rest. There is already a court judgment from the Supreme Court. As a matter of fact, what he is doing is parading himself illegally. There is a court judgment at the Supreme Court which already upholds our excos as the substantive excos and leadership of the NAA.”

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Isibor said his faction had already published the outcome of the judgment and was taking steps to enforce it.

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“We did a publication when the court judgment was out, and anybody parading themselves is doing that against the will of the court. There is already a process put in place for enforcing the judgment. What is likely to happen is that if we have any proof that he is parading himself, that is already contempt of court.”

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He further claimed that Kurra was neither recognised as a member nor as chairman of the association and had been expelled.

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“The court doesn’t even recognise him as the president. We got a judgment from the FCT High Court; he appealed. We won the appeal, and after winning the appeal, he still went to the Supreme Court, and we won. So he is never recognised as a member nor chairman. He has even been expelled. Maybe I would even do another publication to that effect for the expulsion. So the judgment is clear to everyone.”

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The conflicting claims leave the Nigerian Auctioneers Association with two rival leaderships, each relying on different court decisions to assert legitimacy while accusing the other of contempt and impersonation.

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The leadership dispute within the Nigerian Auctioneers Association has persisted for years, resulting in multiple legal battles across different courts.

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The latest disagreement resurfaced after comments on the EFCC’s electronic auction system prompted competing statements from the rival factions.

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While the Kurra-led group said it derived its authority from the National Industrial Court-ordered election conducted in Ibadan in October 2023, the Isibor faction maintained that judgments of the FCT High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court affirmed its leadership.

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As of the time of filing this report, The PUNCH had not independently reconciled the rival claims, and both factions continued to assert legitimacy.

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