A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of nine properties said to be connected to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order on April 24 after hearing an ex parte application brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In the ruling, the judge said: “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 approved the EFCC’s request for the publication of the order in two national newspapers within seven days after obtaining the Certified True Copy of the ruling.
Among the newspapers listed by the court are ThisDay, The Guardian, Punch, Vanguard, Tribune and Independent.
Justice Egwuatu later adjourned the case until May 25 for a report on compliance with the order.
The anti-graft agency filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026 under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
During proceedings, EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, asked the court to grant the interim forfeiture on the grounds that the assets were believed to have been acquired through unlawful activities.
The affected properties are located in different parts of Abuja. They include four blocks of terrace buildings in Dakibiyu and a duplex with a penthouse alongside an office complex at No. 3 Niger Street, M Street.
Others listed in the court documents include a duplex at Villa 1, Unit 1, Palm Springs Estate, Mpape, as well as a 10-flat apartment block located at No. 8 Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 4.
The properties also include a six-unit apartment block 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.
Another property affected by the order is a two-block structure located at No. 5 Aguta Street, Garki, Abuja, which is currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Sylva is also facing a 13-count charge filed by the Federal Government over allegations linked to a plot to remove President Bola Tinubu from office. The report added that he is currently at large.
