The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned a forfeiture case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against nine properties linked to former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, until July 16.
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Justice Obiora Egwuatu adjourned the matter following the inability of the EFCC’s lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, to file a report of compliance in respect of the earlier interim order granted against the properties.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Egwuatu had, on April 24, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the nine properties linked to Sylva, who is also a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, to the Federal Government.
The judge made the order after Atolagbe moved an ex parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026, to that effect.
Justice Egwuatu also granted the EFCC’s request for the publication of the order in any two newspapers within seven days from the date of receipt of the certified true copy of the order, for interested person(s) to show cause within 14 days why a final order of forfeiture should not be made.
The affected assets are located across high-value areas in Abuja.
The judge then adjourned the matter until May 25 for a report of compliance.
Upon resumption of hearing on Monday, Benson Ibezim appeared for the properties listed in the EFCC’s schedule as numbers 1 and 9.
The properties are four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu and two blocks of buildings at Garki, currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
Alex Ejiesieme, SAN, represented parties seeking to show cause with respect to properties listed as numbers 2 and 5: a duplex with a penthouse and an office complex at Maitama, and eight units of one-bedroom flats at No. 8, Misratah Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
Ajayi Olowo, on his part, appeared for a property listed as number 7, two blocks with 12 units of flats at Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II, while Emmanuela Imonikeh represented the third property listed as “one standalone duplex at Palm Springs Estate, Mpape.”
Atolagbe then informed the court that although about six parties had filed their affidavits to show cause in respect of the properties, no party had indicated interest in the three remaining properties in the schedule.
NAN reports that the properties yet to be claimed are numbers 4, 6 and 8 in the schedule.
They include a block of flats with 10 units at Wuse Zone 4; a block of flats with six units at No. 1, Mubi Close; and one stand-alone duplex at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama, respectively.
The EFCC’s lawyer therefore informed the court that a motion on notice seeking final forfeiture of the three properties to the Federal Government had been filed on May 22, since no one had shown cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
The judge, however, said the motion was not in the court file.
When Atolagbe was asked if the parties who had shown cause had been served, he said only one of the parties had been served.
The lawyer said the commission had complied with the earlier order of the court by publishing the enrolled order in Tribune and Punch newspapers.
He, however, said he was yet to file an affidavit of compliance.
Justice Egwuatu directed Atolagbe to publish the motion on notice seeking final forfeiture of the three properties in the same manner the enrolled order was published.
He also ordered him to serve the parties who were yet to be served and file his report of compliance on the earlier interim order in the interest of fair hearing.
The judge, who ordered the lawyer to also respond to the processes filed by the interested parties, adjourned the matter until July 16 for a report of compliance. (NAN)
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