EFCC Seeks Final Forfeiture Of Three Properties Linked To Ex-Gov Sylva

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned proceedings in a forfeiture suit filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against nine properties linked to former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, until February 23, 2027.

The adjournment followed the absence of the presiding judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who was reportedly attending to another official engagement.

The case, which was listed as number four on the court’s cause list, was adjourned for the EFCC to report compliance with previous court directives relating to the interim forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government.

At the last sitting, the EFCC told the court that although several interested parties had filed affidavits to show cause why their properties should not be permanently forfeited, three of the nine properties remained unclaimed.

The commission subsequently disclosed that it had filed a motion seeking the final forfeiture of the three properties, arguing that no interested party had come forward to establish a legitimate claim to them.

However, Justice Egwuatu had declined to entertain the application after observing that the motion was not in the court’s file.

The judge also raised concerns about the service of court processes on interested parties, after EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, admitted that only one of the parties who had filed affidavits to show cause had been served.

Atolagbe told the court that the commission had complied with an earlier directive to publish the interim forfeiture order in two national newspapers, identifying Tribune and Punch as the publications used.

He, however, admitted that the EFCC had yet to file an affidavit of compliance.

Consequently, the judge directed the commission to publish its application for final forfeiture of the three unclaimed properties in the same manner as the interim forfeiture order.

Justice Egwuatu further ordered the EFCC to serve all interested parties who were yet to receive the relevant court processes and file an affidavit demonstrating compliance with the earlier orders.

The judge also directed the commission’s lawyer to respond to the processes filed by parties seeking to establish ownership of some of the properties, stressing the need to uphold their right to fair hearing.

The nine properties were temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government on April 24, 2026, following an ex parte application filed by the EFCC in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026.

Justice Egwuatu had also ordered the commission to publish the interim forfeiture order in two newspapers within seven days of receiving the certified true copy, allowing interested persons 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.

The properties are located in several high-value areas of Abuja, including Maitama, Wuse II, Garki, Dakibiyu and Mpape.

They include four blocks of terrace buildings in Dakibiyu, a two-block building in Garki currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), a duplex with a penthouse and an office complex in Maitama, as well as multiple blocks of residential flats in Wuse II.

Other assets listed in the EFCC’s schedule include a standalone duplex at Palm Springs Estate, Mpape.

The three properties for which the commission is seeking final forfeiture are a block of 10 flats in Wuse Zone 4, a block of six flats at No. 1, Mubi Close, and a standalone duplex at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama.

At the May 25 proceedings, several lawyers appeared for parties seeking to establish claims to some of the properties.

Benson Ibezim represented interested parties concerning properties listed as numbers one and nine, while Alex Ejiesieme, SAN, appeared for parties claiming properties numbers two and five.

Ajayi Olowo represented parties linked to property number seven, while Emmanuella Imonikeh appeared for an interested party concerning the duplex in Palm Springs Estate, Mpape.

Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, also served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

The matter was adjourned until February 23, 2027, for a report of compliance.