Court Adjourns EFCC’s Sylva Asset Forfeiture Suit to July 16
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned a forfeiture suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against nine properties linked to former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, until July 16, citing the anti-graft agency’s failure to file a compliance report on an earlier interim order.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu ordered the fresh adjournment after the EFCC’s counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, was unable to file the required report of compliance regarding the temporary forfeiture order previously granted against the assets.
The court had, on April 24, granted the temporary forfeiture of the nine properties to the Federal Government following an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026, moved by Atolagbe. The same order directed the EFCC to publish a notice of the forfeiture in any two national newspapers within seven days of receiving the certified true copy of the ruling, granting interested parties a 14 day window to show cause why a final forfeiture order should not be issued.
The affected assets, all located in choice districts of Abuja, attracted multiple claimants when proceedings resumed on Monday. Benson Ibezim appeared for properties listed as 1 and 9 on the EFCC’s schedule, comprising four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu and two blocks of buildings at Garki currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Alex Ejiesieme, represented interested parties in respect of properties listed as 2 and 5, a duplex with a penthouse and office complex at Maitama, and eight units of one bedroom flats at No. 8, Misratah Street, Wuse II. Ajayi Olowo appeared for property number 7, two blocks containing 12 units of flats at Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II, while Emmanuela Imonikeh represented the claimant in respect of property number 3, a standalone duplex at Palm Springs Estate, Mpape.
Atolagbe informed the court that approximately six parties had filed affidavits to show cause, though no claimant had stepped forward for three properties on the schedule. The unclaimed assets, listed as numbers 4, 6 and 8, include a 10 unit block of flats at Wuse Zone 4; a six unit block of flats at No. 1, Mubi Close; and a standalone duplex at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama.
The EFCC counsel told the court that a motion on notice seeking final forfeiture of the three unclaimed properties had been filed on May 22. Justice Egwuatu, however, noted that the said motion was not in the court file.
When asked whether parties who had shown cause had been served, Atolagbe confirmed that only one party had been served. He stated that the commission had complied with the earlier order by publishing the enrolled order in the Tribune and Punch newspapers but admitted he was yet to file the corresponding affidavit of compliance.
Justice Egwuatu directed the EFCC lawyer to publish the motion on notice seeking final forfeiture of the three unclaimed properties in the same manner as the enrolled order, serve all parties yet to be served, and file the outstanding report of compliance in the interest of fair hearing. The judge further ordered Atolagbe to respond to processes filed by the interested parties before adjourning the matter to July 16 for a fresh report of compliance.