A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of nine properties allegedly linked to Timipre Sylva, former minister of state for petroleum resources.
Gatekeepers News reports that 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).
In his ruling, the judge stated: “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.”
He further directed that: “An order of this honourable court is made directing the publication of the interim order… 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 order to be published in two national newspapers within seven days of receiving the certified true copy of the ruling. The newspapers listed include ThisDay, The Guardian, Punch, Vanguard, Tribune, and Independent.
Justice Egwuatu adjourned the matter to May 25 for a report of compliance.
The EFCC filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026, under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. Counsel to the agency, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, urged the court to grant the interim forfeiture on the grounds that the properties were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The affected properties, located in high-value areas of Abuja, include four blocks of terrace houses in Dakibiyu; a duplex with a penthouse and office complex at No. 3 Niger Street, M Street; and a standalone duplex at Villa 1, Unit 1, Palm Springs Estate, Mpape.
Others are a block of 10 flats at No. 8 Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 4; 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 located at No. 5 Aguta Street, Garki, Abuja, currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Sylva, who is reportedly at large, is also named in a 13-count charge filed by the federal government over allegations of a plot to oust President Bola Tinubu.
