The woes of the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva are yet to be over as a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of nine properties linked to the former governor of Bayelsa State to the Federal Government.
The order was granted by Justice Obiora Egwuatu following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Oluwaleke Atolagbe.
The ruling, delivered on April 24 but revealed on Wednesday, also directs the anti-graft agency to publish the forfeiture order in two national newspapers within seven days, while the case has been adjourned to May 25 for a compliance report.
The EFCC said the application was filed under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, noting that the properties, located in high-value areas of Abuja, are suspected proceeds of unlawful activities.
The court further ordered that any interested party must, within 14 days of publication, show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the government.
Timipre Sylva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State, has also been previously named among alleged conspirators in a purported coup attempt against President Bola Tinubu last year.
