Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of Nine Abuja Properties Linked to Ex-Minister Timipre Sylva

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the temporary seizure of nine high-value properties linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva — adding to what is shaping up to be a very rough 2026 for the ex-Bayelsa governor.

The Ruling

Justice Obiora Atuegwu Egwuatu granted the order on April 24, though the enrolled order only became public on Wednesday, May 6. The application was brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 — suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026.

The court’s order, made on an ex parte basis, directs that the properties be temporarily forfeited to the Federal Government pending a motion on notice for a final forfeiture order. Anyone with an interest in the properties has 14 days — from the date the order is published in at least two national newspapers — to appear before the court and show cause why permanent seizure should not be ordered.

The case was adjourned to May 25 for compliance reports.

What Properties Are We Talking About?

All nine are spread across some of Abuja’s most sought-after neighbourhoods. They include four blocks of terraces at Dakibiyu; a duplex with penthouse and office complex at No. 3, Niger Street; 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; and a six-unit block at No. 1, Mubi Close, Garki.

Rounding out the list: two blocks holding 12 units at Plot 1181, Thaba Tseka Crescent, Wuse II; a duplex at No. 18, Nile Lake, Plot 1271, Maitama; and a two-block building at No. 5, Aguta Street, Garki — currently occupied by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

Separate From the Coup Case

This forfeiture action is a distinct matter from the ongoing 13-count charge Sylva faces over an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu. He is reportedly at large in that separate case. Wednesday’s development is purely a fraud and assets-recovery action — the EFCC is moving to recover properties it believes were acquired through unlawful means.

EFCC counsel Oluwaleke Atolagbe told the court the interim order was necessary to preserve the assets before final determination. The commission also wants to make sure any interested parties get proper notice through newspaper publication — a process that must be completed within seven days of obtaining a certified true copy of the ruling.

A Pattern Worth Watching

This is not an isolated move. The EFCC has been aggressively pursuing assets-recovery actions across the board, and Sylva — a politically connected figure who served as Bayelsa governor from 2008 to 2012 before his ministerial stints — is now caught in two separate legal storms simultaneously. Whether the properties will ultimately be forfeited permanently depends on what happens at the May 25 hearing and beyond.

Sources: Politics Nigeria, TheWill News, Gazette Nigeria