Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of Nine Abuja Properties Linked To Timipre Sylva

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of nine properties linked to a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, to the Federal Government.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order after counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, moved an ex parte motion seeking the temporary forfeiture of the assets.

The properties, which are located in high-value areas of the Federal Capital Territory, were said to be suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that although the ruling was delivered on April 24, the enrolled order was sighted on Wednesday, May 6.

The affected assets include four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu and a duplex with penthouse and office complex at No. 3, Niger Street, MStreet.

Also listed are one 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, Abuja.

Other properties covered by the order are blocks of flats with six units at No. 1, Mubi Close, Garki, Abuja, and two blocks with 12 units of flats at Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

The list also includes one standalone duplex at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama, Abuja.

The ninth property is a two-block building currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency, located at No. 5, Aguta Street, Garki, Abuja.

In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties pending the publication and hearing of the motion on notice for final forfeiture.

The judge said, “It is hereby ordered as follows: 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.

“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 directed that the interim order should be published in any two national newspapers within seven days from the receipt of the certified true copy of the order.

The newspapers listed by the court are ThisDay, The Guardian, PUNCH, Vanguard, Tribune and Independent Newspapers.

Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter until May 25 for a report of compliance.

The EFCC filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026 under provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

Moving the motion, Atolagbe asked the court to temporarily forfeit the properties to the Federal Government pending the publication of the order and the hearing of the motion for final forfeiture.

He told the court that the properties were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

The lawyer also urged the court to direct the anti-graft agency to publish the order in a national newspaper so that anyone with interest in the assets could appear and show cause within 14 days why a final forfeiture order should not be made in favour of the Federal Government.

Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, has also been mentioned in connection with an alleged failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.

He has, however, not been formally charged in that matter. Reports also indicated that the former minister is still at large.