A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of nine properties allegedly linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, to the Federal Government.
The order was granted on April 24 by Justice Obiora Egwuatu following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“An interim order of this honourable court is made forfeiting the properties listed in the schedule attached herein being properties suspected to be proceeds of some unlawful activities pending the publication and hearing of the motion on notice for final forfeiture order of the said properties,” the judge ruled.
“An order of this honourable court is made directing the publication of the interim order under order (1) above for anyone who is interested in the property to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The court also approved the EFCC’s request for the interim forfeiture order to be published in two national newspapers within seven days after obtaining the certified true copy of the ruling.
The newspapers approved by the court include ThisDay, The Guardian, Punch, Vanguard, Tribune and Independent.
Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned the case to May 25 for a compliance report.
The EFCC filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026 under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
While presenting the motion, counsel to the anti-graft agency, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, urged the court to grant the interim forfeiture on the basis that the properties were suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.
The affected properties are located in several high-value areas across Abuja.
They include four blocks of terrace buildings in Dakibiyu; a duplex with a penthouse and office complex located at No. 3 Niger Street, M Street; a standalone duplex at Villa 1, Unit 1, Palm Springs Estate, Mpape; and a block of 10 flats at No. 8 Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 4.
Other properties listed are a six-unit block of flats at No. 1 Mubi Close, Garki; two blocks containing 12 flats at Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II; and a standalone duplex at No. 18 Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama.
The ninth property is a two-block building situated at No. 5 Aguta Street, Garki, Abuja, currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
Sylva, who is reportedly at large, is also named in a 13-count charge filed by the Federal Government over allegations relating to a plot to oust President Bola Tinubu.
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