The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of nine high-value properties allegedly linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, in a move tied to ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over suspected illicit asset acquisition.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the ruling on Wednesday, granted the order following an ex parte application filed by the anti-graft agency, which told the court that preliminary investigations indicated the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
In the ruling, the court directed that the assets be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government pending the determination of a motion for final forfeiture.
Justice Egwuatu further ordered that the interim forfeiture be published in at least two national newspapers to allow any interested party to appear before the court within 14 days and show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be granted.
The judge stated: “An interim order of this honourable court is made forfeiting the properties listed… being properties suspected to be proceeds of some unlawful activities pending the publication and hearing of the motion on notice for final forfeiture.
“An order is also made directing the publication… for anyone interested in the property to appear before this 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 directed that the publication must be carried out within seven days of obtaining the Certified True Copy of the ruling and adjourned the matter till May 25 for a report of compliance.
EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, had urged the court to grant the application, arguing that findings from ongoing investigations linked the properties to alleged unlawful acquisition.
The affected assets, located in prime districts of the Federal Capital Territory, include Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Mpape and Dakibiyu.
They comprise four blocks of terraces in Dakibiyu; a duplex with a penthouse and office complex on Niger Street; a standalone duplex at Palm Springs Estate, Mpape; and a 10-unit block of flats in Wuse Zone 4.
Others are a six-unit block of flats in Garki; two blocks of 12 flats in Wuse II; a standalone duplex in Maitama; and a two-block structure in Garki currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The EFCC filed the application under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, seeking interim preservation of the assets pending conclusion of forfeiture proceedings.
Meanwhile, Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, has recently been mentioned in connection with an alleged failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu. However, he has not been formally charged in relation to the allegation and is reportedly at large.
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