Court orders interim forfeiture of nine properties linked to ex-Minister Timipre Sylva to FG 

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary forfeiture of nine properties linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, to the Federal Government.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order following an ex-parte motion moved by counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Oluwaleke Atolagbe, seeking the interim forfeiture of the assets.

In his ruling, Justice Egwuatu stated: “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 final forfeiture order of the said properties.

An order of this honourable court is made directing the publication of the interim order under order (1) 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 also granted the EFCC’s request that the publication of the interim forfeiture order be made within seven days of receiving the certified true copy of the order.

He subsequently adjourned the matter until May 25 for a report of compliance.

The anti-graft agency filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026, under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

Moving the motion, Atolagbe urged the court to grant the interim forfeiture pending the publication and hearing of the motion for a final forfeiture order, stating that the properties are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

He further prayed the court to direct the commission to publish the order in a national newspaper to enable interested persons to appear within 14 days and show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.

The affected assets, located across high-value areas in Abuja, include: four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu; a duplex with penthouse and office complex at No. 3, Niger Street, MStreet; a standalone duplex at Villa 1, Unit 1, Palm Springs Estate, Mpape; a block of 10 flats at No. 8, Sefadu Street, Wuse Zone 4; a block of six flats at No. 1, Mubi Close, Garki; two blocks of 12 flats at Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II; a standalone duplex at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama; and a two-block building currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) at No. 5, Aguta Street, Garki.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

See author's posts