Court orders temporary forfeiture of Timipre Sylva's nine property
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order for the interim forfeiture of nine property said to be owned by a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources,
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order for the interim forfeiture of nine property said to be owned by a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling, said the property is to be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government.
The ruling, delivered on April 24, but a certified true copy (CTC) of which was seen on Thursday, was on an ex parte motion filed by a lawyer, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
After Atolagbe moved the motion, Justice Egwuatu said, “It is hereby ordered as follows:
*An interim order of this honourable court is made forfeiting the properties listed in the schedule attached herein, being properties suspected to be proceeds of some unlawful activities, pending the publication and hearing of the motion on notice for a final forfeiture order of the said properties.
*An order of this honourable court is made directing the publication of the interim order under order one above for anyone who is interested in the property to appear before this honourable court to show cause within 14 days why the final order of forfeiture should not be made in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The judge said the order shall be published in two of the six newspapers suggested by the applicant.
He then adjourned the matter until May 25 for a report of compliance.
The property to be affected by the order include four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu; a duplex with penthouse and office complex at No. 3, Niger Street, MStreet; one standalone duplex at Villa 1, Unit 1, Palm Springs Estate, Mpape; and a block of flats with 10 units of flats at No. 8, Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 4 (all in Abuja).
Others are blocks of flats with six units of flats at No. 1, Mubi Close, Garki, Abuja; two blocks with 12 units of flats at Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja; one standalone duplex at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama, Abuja,
The ninth property is a two-block building, which is currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency, and is located at No. 5, Aguta Street, Garki, Abuja.
