From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an interim forfeiture order on nine high-value properties allegedly linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Obiora Egwuatu made the order after the EFCC, through its counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, moved an ex parte motion seeking the temporary seizure of the assets pending the determination of a motion on notice for final forfeiture. The ruling was delivered on April 24 but the enrolled order was sighted on Wednesday.
In the ruling, the court held that the properties, which are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, should be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government, pending further hearing of the substantive application.
The judge further directed that the interim order be published in at least two national newspapers from a list including ThisDay, The Guardian, The Punch, Vanguard, Tribune, and Independent Newspapers. The publication is to be carried out within seven days of receiving the certified true copy of the order.
Justice Egwuatu also ordered that the publication should serve as notice to any interested party, who would then have 14 days to appear before the court and show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The matter was adjourned until May 25 for a report of compliance with the publication directive.
The EFCC, in suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026, filed the application under the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, urging the court to grant interim forfeiture of the assets because they are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Atolagbe, while moving the motion, told the court that the interim order was necessary to preserve the properties pending full judicial determination, adding that public notice would allow any interested person to contest the forfeiture within the statutory timeframe.
The affected assets are located in high-brow areas of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
They include four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu; a duplex with a penthouse and office complex at No. 3, Niger Street, Abuja; a standalone duplex at Villa 1, Unit 1, Palm Springs Estate, Mpape; and a block of flats comprising 10 units at No. 8, Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 4.
Others are a block of flats with six units at No. 1, Mubi Close, Garki; two blocks of flats containing 12 units 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 currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), located at No. 5, Aguta Street, Garki, Abuja.
The Federal Government had filed a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court in Abuja against seven individuals including Sylva (who is reportedly at large), over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.
