The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) has announced the sale of the Silverbird Entertainment Centre in Abuja. This move aims to recover a multi-billion naira debt connected to former senator and businessman, Ben Murray-Bruce.
In a public notice recently issued, AMCON invited bids for the popular entertainment complex. The mall is located in the Central Area, Cadastral Zone, Abuja. It is one of several high-profile properties AMCON is putting up for sale across Nigeria, including assets in Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, and Plateau states.
The Abuja mall operates under the Silverbird Entertainment brand. In 2016, a Federal High Court ordered the seizure of the property due to an unpaid debt of over N10 billion. The debt is linked to companies owned by the Murray-Bruce family. These include Silverbird Productions Limited, Silverbird Showtime Limited, and Silverbird Galleria Limited.
Following the court order, M.A. Banire was appointed as receiver to take control of the assets. Justice C.M.A. Olatoregun also barred Ben Murray-Bruce, his brothers Guy and Roy, and other family members from interfering with the receiver’s work. The ruling affected several mortgaged properties in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.
Despite various negotiations since the seizure, the debt remains unpaid. AMCON stated that the sale is part of its renewed strategy to recover debts from top-profile defaulters. The Silverbird Abuja mall is a flagship property. It includes retail shops, a cinema, restaurants, and office spaces.
According to AMCON, the mall offers a gross lettable area of 15,050.91 square metres. The property is being sold in its current condition.
Ben Murray-Bruce served as a senator representing Bayelsa East from 2015 to 2019. He is also known as a media entrepreneur and founder of the Silverbird Group. The group operates television and radio stations in Nigeria and Ghana. It is also behind the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant.
AMCON revealed that more than 400 top-profile debtors owe about N4.5 trillion, representing nearly 80 percent of its outstanding debt. The corporation has adopted a more aggressive approach to debt recovery. This includes asset sales and legal action.
Bids for the Silverbird Abuja mall and other listed properties are open until 11 July. Interested buyers are encouraged to visit AMCON’s website or contact its agents for further details.
As of the time of reporting, Mr Murray-Bruce had not responded to requests for comment on the planned sale.
