Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of Sylva-Linked Properties

A Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture on April 24 of nine properties linked to Timipre Sylva, former minister of state for petroleum resources and ex-governor of Bayelsa State, to the federal government. Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the ruling after an ex parte motion by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026, filed under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act of 2006.

The judge declared the properties suspected proceeds of unlawful activities and ordered their temporary transfer to the government pending publication of the notice and a hearing on a final forfeiture motion. "An interim order of this honourable court is made forfeiting the properties listed in the schedule attached herein... pending the publication and hearing of the motion on notice for final forfeiture order of the said properties," Egwuatu ruled.

The court further directed the EFCC to publish the order in any two national newspapers, including ThisDay, The Guardian, Punch, Vanguard, Tribune or Independent, within seven days of receiving a certified true copy. Interested parties must appear within 14 days to...