A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of nine properties allegedly linked to former minister of state for petroleum resources Timipre Sylva, pending the determination of a final forfeiture application brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The order was granted by Justice Obiora Egwuatu after an ex parte application filed by EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe.
Although the ruling was delivered on 24 April, the enrolled court order was sighted on Wednesday.
The assets, spread across some of Abuja’s most affluent districts, include four blocks of terrace buildings in Dakibiyu; a duplex with a penthouse and office complex on Niger Street in the MStreet area; and a standalone duplex in Palm Springs Estate, Mpape.
Other properties listed in the court order include a 10-unit block of flats on Sefadu Street in Wuse Zone 4; a six-unit apartment block on Mubi Close in Garki; and two residential blocks containing 12 flats on Thaba Tseka Crescent in Wuse II.
The court also ordered the interim forfeiture of a standalone duplex in Maitama and a two-block office building on Aguta Street in Garki currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu said the properties were “suspected to be proceeds of some unlawful activities” and should remain forfeited to the Federal Government pending the hearing of a motion seeking permanent forfeiture.
The judge further directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in at least two national newspapers, including titles such as The Guardian, Punch Newspapers and Vanguard, to allow any interested parties 14 days to appear before the court and show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
The matter was adjourned until 25 May for a compliance report.
The EFCC filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026, under provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.
Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa state, has also been mentioned in connection with an alleged failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu. However, he has not been formally charged in relation to that allegation and is reportedly still at large.
