The 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.
The ruling was delivered by Justice Obiora Egwuatu after an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The commission told the court that the properties are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
Although the decision was made on April 24, the order became public on Wednesday.
The court directed that the assets be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government pending the determination of a motion for final forfeiture. It also ordered that the interim forfeiture be published in at least two national newspapers.
According to the court, any person with an interest in the properties must appear within 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited.
Justice Egwuatu further directed the EFCC to publish the order within seven days of receiving the certified true copy. The case was adjourned until May 25 for a report on compliance.
The EFCC filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026 under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
The properties are located in prime areas of Abuja. They include residential buildings, duplexes, and blocks of flats in Dakibiyu, Mpape, Wuse, Garki, and Maitama.
One of the properties is currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in Garki.
The interim forfeiture is part of ongoing efforts by the EFCC to recover assets believed to be linked to financial crimes. The court will decide on final forfeiture after hearing from interested parties.