The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday adjourned until July 16 further proceedings in the forfeiture suit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against nine properties linked to former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva.
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Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date following the inability of counsel for the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, to file a report of compliance regarding the interim forfeiture order earlier granted by the court.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date following the inability of counsel for the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, to file a report of compliance regarding the interim forfeiture order earlier granted by the court.
Justice Egwuatu had, on April 24, ordered the interim forfeiture of the nine properties to the Federal Government after Atolagbe moved an ex parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026.
The properties are said to be linked to Sylva, who also served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
In granting the interim order, the court also approved the EFCC’s request for the publication of the order in two national newspapers within seven days of receiving the certified true copy of the ruling, directing interested persons to show cause within 14 days why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The properties, located in choice areas of Abuja, include residential and commercial buildings spread across Maitama, Wuse II, Garki, Mpape and Dakibiyu.
The matter had earlier been adjourned to May 25 for a report of compliance.
At the resumed sitting on Monday, Benson Ibezim appeared for parties connected to properties listed as numbers one and nine in the EFCC’s schedule.
The properties comprise four blocks of terraces located at Dakibiyu and two blocks of buildings in Garki, currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
Alex Ejiesieme (SAN) represented parties seeking to show cause in respect of properties listed as numbers two and five in the schedule.
The properties include a duplex with a penthouse and office complex in Maitama, as well as eight units of one-bedroom flats situated at No. 8, Misratah Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
Ajayi Olowo appeared for the property listed as number seven in the schedule, described as two blocks containing 12 units of flats located at Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II.
Emmanuela Imonikeh, on the other hand, represented parties connected to the third property listed as “one standalone duplex at Palm Springs Estate, Mpape.”
During proceedings, Atolagbe informed the court that approximately six parties had already filed affidavits to show cause in respect of some of the properties.
He, however, noted that no individual or entity had indicated interest in the remaining three properties listed in the schedule.
The unclaimed properties are listed as numbers four, six and eight. They include a 10-unit block of flats located in Wuse Zone 4; a six-unit block of flats at No. 1, Mubi Close; and a standalone duplex situated at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama.
The EFCC lawyer further disclosed that the commission had filed a motion on notice on May 22 seeking a final forfeiture order in respect of the three unclaimed properties, on the grounds that no party had come forward to contest the interim forfeiture order.
The court, however, observed that the motion was not yet in the court’s file.
Responding to questions from the bench on whether all parties who had shown cause were served with the motion, Atolagbe stated that only one of the parties had so far been served.
He added that the commission had complied with the court’s earlier directive by publishing the enrolled interim forfeiture order in The PUNCH and Nigerian Tribune, although he admitted that an affidavit of compliance had yet to be filed.
Following the development, Justice Egwuatu directed the EFCC counsel to publish the motion on notice seeking final forfeiture of the three unclaimed properties in the same manner the interim order was published.
The judge also ordered the lawyer to serve all parties yet to be served and to file a report of compliance relating to the interim forfeiture order in the interest of a fair hearing.
Justice Egwuatu further directed the EFCC to respond to all processes already filed by parties seeking to contest the forfeiture proceedings before adjourning the matter until July 16 for a report of compliance.
