A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of nine properties linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva over allegations of unlawful acquisition.
Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu granted the order on Wednesday following an ex parte application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The ruling is pending the publication of a notice and hearing of a motion for final forfeiture.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026, was filed under the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. The EFCC asked the court to temporarily seize the assets, which it suspects are proceeds of unlawful activities, and to allow interested parties 14 days to show cause why a final forfeiture should not be granted.
The affected properties are spread across prime areas in the capital. They include four blocks of terraces in Dakibiyu, a duplex with a penthouse and office complex in Maitama, and a standalone duplex in Palm Springs Estate, Mpape. Additional assets include multiple blocks of flats in Wuse Zone 4, Wuse II, Garki, and Maitama, as well as buildings currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency in Garki.
Justice Egwuatu directed that the interim order be published in at least two national newspapers within seven days of obtaining the certified true copy, for anyone with an interest in the properties to respond within 14 days. The case was adjourned to May 25 for a compliance report.
The forfeiture order is tied to an ongoing EFCC investigation into Sylva, who is also facing allegations involving $14.8 million said to be part of an investment by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in a refinery project. The commission had obtained an arrest warrant against him from a Federal High Court in Lagos in 2025 and earlier declared him wanted.
The latest development comes amid separate allegations that Sylva is on the run over claims of involvement in a plot against the Tinubu administration — claims he has not publicly addressed.
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