The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) bid to secure the permanent forfeiture of nine properties linked to Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa State and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has been stalled by outstanding compliance requirements.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned the forfeiture proceedings until February 23, 2027, for a report of compliance with its earlier orders.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date after the matter could not proceed because he was attending another official engagement.
The adjournment followed outstanding requirements by the EFCC to serve interested parties, publish its application for final forfeiture of three of the properties and file an affidavit confirming compliance with the court’s earlier directives.
Justice Egwuatu had, on April 24, ordered the interim forfeiture of the nine properties to the Federal Government following an ex-parte application by Oluwaleke Atolagbe, counsel to the EFCC, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026.
The court also directed the commission to publish the interim forfeiture order in two newspapers within seven days of receiving the certified true copy of the order. Interested parties were given 14 days to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
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At the previous sitting on May 25, Atolagbe informed the court that about six parties had filed affidavits to show cause in respect of some of the properties.
Benson Ibezim appeared for parties interested in properties listed as numbers one and nine in the EFCC’s schedule. These comprise four blocks of terraces in Dakibiyu and a two-block building in Garki, currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency.
Alex Ejiesieme, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, represented parties interested in properties two and five: a duplex with a penthouse and an office complex in Maitama, and eight units of one-bedroom flats at No. 8, Misratah Street, Wuse II.
Ajayi Olowo appeared for parties connected to property seven, comprising two blocks of 12 flats at Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II, while Emmanuella Imonikeh represented parties interested in property three, a standalone duplex at Palm Springs Estate, Mpape.
However, Atolagbe told the court that no interested party had come forward in respect of three other properties listed as numbers four, six and eight.
The properties comprise 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.
The EFCC lawyer informed the court that the commission had filed a motion on notice on May 22, seeking the final forfeiture of the three properties, as no one had filed processes to show cause why they should not be permanently forfeited.
Justice Egwuatu, however, observed that the motion was not in the court file.
When the judge asked whether all parties who had shown cause had been served, Atolagbe said only one of them had received the relevant processes.
He told the court that the EFCC had complied with the publication requirement for the interim forfeiture order by placing it in the Tribune and Punch newspapers, but acknowledged that the commission had yet to file an affidavit of compliance.
The judge directed the EFCC to publish its application for the final forfeiture of the three unclaimed properties in the same manner as the earlier interim order.
He also ordered the commission to serve all parties who were yet to be served, file its affidavit of compliance and respond to the processes filed by interested parties.
Justice Egwuatu said the outstanding steps were necessary to ensure fair hearing before adjourning the case until February 23, 2027, for a report of compliance.
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