Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of Sylva’s Nine Abuja Properties

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary takeover of nine properties linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, following an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted the order after listening to an ex parte motion presented by EFCC lawyer Oluwaleke Atolagbe. Although the ruling was delivered on April 24, the court documents became public on May 6.

The court directed that the properties be placed under interim forfeiture to the Federal Government pending the determination of the case. The anti-graft agency told the court that the assets were suspected to have been acquired through unlawful activities.

The affected properties are located in different parts of Abuja. Among them are four blocks of terrace buildings in Dakibiyu, a duplex with a penthouse and office complex on Niger Street, and another duplex inside Palm Springs Estate in Mpape.

Other assets listed in the court order include a 10-unit apartment building in Wuse Zone 4, blocks of flats in Garki and Wuse II, and another duplex in Maitama. One of the buildings affected by the order is currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency in Garki.

The judge also directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order in national newspapers within seven days. The publication is meant to allow anyone with interest in the properties to appear before the court and explain why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The matter was later adjourned until May 25 for the agency to report compliance with the court’s directives.
The EFCC filed the suit under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. In its application before the court, the commission argued that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that the properties were proceeds of illegal activities.

Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, has also recently been linked to reports surrounding an alleged failed plot against President Bola Tinubu. However, no formal charge has been filed against him in connection with that matter.