Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s Asset Management Corporation (AMCON) has listed the Silverbird Entertainment Centre in Abuja for sale, in a move to recover a significant multi-billion-naira debt associated with former Nigerian Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and his companies.
The listing, detailed in a recent public notice by AMCON, confirms that the Abuja Mall – a prominent commercial complex located in the city’s Central Area – is now open for bids. This property is among several assets AMCON is currently divesting across various Nigerian states, including Lagos, Rivers, Oyo, and Plateau.
The Abuja mall, operated under the Silverbird Entertainment brand, was initially seized in 2016 following a Federal High Court order. This action stemmed from an outstanding debt exceeding N10 billion (approximately $6.7 million USD) owed to AMCON by several companies within the Murray-Bruce family’s portfolio, including Silverbird Productions Limited, Silverbird Showtime Limited, and Silverbird Galleria Limited.
In June 2016, the court appointed Muiz Banire as a receiver to take over the companies’ assets on AMCON’s behalf. The presiding judge, Justice C.M.A. Olatoregun, also issued an order preventing Ben Murray-Bruce, his brothers Guy and Roy Murray-Bruce, and other family members from interfering with the receiver’s duties. This court order covered several mortgaged properties in Abuja, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.
Despite subsequent negotiations, the debt remained unresolved. AMCON stated that the current sale is part of its broader asset recovery strategy, specifically targeting high-profile debtors who have failed to honour their financial obligations.
Silverbird’s Abuja mall is considered one of the group’s flagship properties, featuring retail outlets, a cinema, restaurants, and office spaces. According to AMCON’s notice, the property boasts a gross lettable area of 15,050.91 square metres and is being offered for sale “as is.”
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, who represented Bayelsa East in the National Assembly from 2015 to 2019, is also a well-known media entrepreneur and the founder of the Silverbird Group. The conglomerate operates television and radio stations in Nigeria and Ghana and also organises the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) beauty pageant.
As of 2017, AMCON reported that over 400 high-profile debtors accounted for approximately N4.5 trillion, representing nearly 80% of its total outstanding debt portfolio. Since then, the Corporation has intensified its recovery efforts through measures such as asset sales and legal enforcement.
Bids for the Abuja mall and other listed properties are due by July 11. Prospective buyers are advised to visit AMCON’s official website or contact the designated coordinating agents for further details. Mr. Murray-Bruce has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the planned sale.
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