The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the permanent forfeiture of three properties allegedly linked to former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
The application, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu, concerns nine properties previously placed under interim forfeiture orders following a request by the anti-graft agency.
However, the EFCC is seeking a final forfeiture order against three of the properties, claiming that no individual or organisation has come forward to establish ownership or demonstrate a legitimate interest in the assets.
At an earlier hearing, the commission informed the court that several interested parties had filed affidavits explaining why some of the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
According to the EFCC, the remaining three properties had attracted no ownership claims, prompting it to file an application for their final forfeiture.
Justice Egwuatu, however, declined to consider the application at the previous sitting after discovering that the motion was not available in the court’s file.
The judge also raised concerns about whether all interested parties had been properly served with the relevant court documents.
Counsel to the EFCC, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, acknowledged that the commission had served only one of the parties who filed affidavits to show cause.
Atolagbe further informed the court that the EFCC had fulfilled an earlier directive to publish the interim forfeiture notice in two national newspapers, identifying Tribune and Punch as the publications used.
He, however, admitted that the commission had yet to file an affidavit formally confirming its compliance with the court’s directives.
Following the submissions, the judge directed the EFCC to publish its application for the final forfeiture of the three properties in the same manner as the earlier interim forfeiture notice.
The commission was also ordered to serve all outstanding court processes on the interested parties and file an affidavit of compliance before the next hearing.
The properties listed in the final forfeiture application include a block of 10 flats in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja; a block of six flats at No. 1, Mubi Close; and a detached duplex at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until February 23, 2027, for the EFCC to report compliance with the outstanding directives.
