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, to the Federal Government.
The order was granted by Justice Obiora Egwuatu following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Although the ruling was delivered on April 24, the enrolled court order became publicly available on Wednesday.
The affected properties, located in different parts of Abuja, are believed to be proceeds of alleged unlawful activities.
Among the properties listed are four blocks of terrace buildings in Dakibiyu; a duplex with a penthouse and office complex on Niger Street, MStreet; a standalone duplex in Palm Springs Estate, Mpape; and a 10-unit block of flats on Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 4.
Other assets include a six-unit block of flats in Garki; two blocks containing 12 flats at Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II; and another standalone duplex located in Maitama.
Also listed is a two-block building situated on Aguta Street, Garki, currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu ordered the temporary forfeiture of the properties pending the hearing and determination of a motion seeking their final forfeiture to the Federal Government.
“It is hereby ordered that the listed properties, suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities, be forfeited temporarily to the Federal Government pending the hearing of the motion on notice for final forfeiture,” the judge ruled.
The court also directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in national newspapers to allow any interested party to appear before the court within 14 days and explain why the properties should not be permanently forfeited.
Justice Egwuatu further granted the EFCC permission to publish the notice in at least two national newspapers, including ThisDay, The Guardian, The PUNCH, Vanguard, Tribune or Independent Newspapers.
The matter was adjourned until May 25 for a report on compliance with the court’s directives.
The EFCC filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026 under provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
While moving the application, EFCC counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, told the court that the assets were reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means and urged the court to grant the interim forfeiture order pending further proceedings.
Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, has also been linked in recent reports to an alleged failed coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, although no formal charges have been filed against him in connection with the allegation.
