The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order for the forfeiture of nine properties linked to Timipre Sylva, former minister of state for Petroleum Resources. Justice Obiora Egwuatu granted the request following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe. The court ruled that the properties are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. An interim forfeiture order has been issued, pending publication and hearing of a motion on notice for final forfeiture.
The EFCC filed the application under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, in a suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026. Atolagbe urged the court to direct that the order be published in a national newspaper within seven days, allowing any interested party 14 days to appear and show cause against the final forfeiture. Justice Egwuatu granted the request and adjourned the case to May 25 for a compliance report.
The affected properties are located in high-value areas across Abuja. They include four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu, a duplex with penthouse and office complex at No. 3, Niger Street, MStreet, and a standalone duplone at Villa 1, Unit 1, Palm Springs Estate, Mpape. Others are a block of flats with 10 units at No. 8, Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 4; a block with six units at No. 1, Mubi Close, Garki; and two blocks with 12 units at Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II. A standalone duplex is located at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama. The ninth is two blocks at No. 5, Aguta Street, Garki, currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
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