A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an interim forfeiture order covering nine properties linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva.
The ruling was issued by Justice Obiora Egwuatu following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Although the decision was delivered on April 24, the enrolled court order became public on Wednesday, May 6.
The properties affected by the order are located in several high value districts across Abuja, including Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Mpape and Dakibiyu. The assets include terraces, duplexes, office buildings and multiple blocks of flats.
Among the listed properties are residential buildings in Dakibiyu, Palm Springs Estate in Mpape, Sefadu Street in Wuse Zone 4, Mubi Close in Garki and Thaba Tseka Crescent in Wuse II. Another property covered by the order is a building on Aguta Street in Garki currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
In the ruling, the court approved the temporary transfer of the assets to the Federal Government pending further proceedings over their ownership and source of funding. The judge also directed that notices be published in national newspapers inviting any interested parties to appear before the court within 14 days to explain why a final forfeiture order should not be granted.
The court instructed the anti graft agency to publish the notice in at least two national newspapers, including options such as The Guardian, Vanguard, Tribune, ThisDay, The PUNCH or Independent Newspapers.
The matter was adjourned until May 25 for a compliance report. The EFCC filed the case under provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, arguing that the assets were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Sylva, who previously served as governor of Bayelsa State, has also been mentioned in reports concerning an alleged failed coup plot against Bola Tinubu, although no formal charges have reportedly been filed against him in connection with that matter.
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