EFFCC SIEZE FORMER BAYELSA STATE GOVERNORS' PROPERTIES

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, seized 48 choice property belonging to former Bayelsa State Governor, Mr. Timipre Sylva, who is being prosecuted at a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged misappropriation of N6.46 billion state funds when he was governor of the state. The interim forfeiture of the property order by Justice A. R Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja was obtained on December 28, 2012. Meanwhile, the embattled former Bayelsa State governor has condemned the action of the EFCC, charging them to respect the law.

“Assets belonging to the former governor against which a forfeiture order was obtained by the EFCC include a mansion at 3 River Niger Street, plot 3192Cadastral zone AO, Maitama District Abuja; nine units (comprising six one bedroom and 3 two bedroom apartments) at 8 Sefadu Street Wuse zone 2, plot 262 Cadastral zone AO2, Wuse Abuja; 2 units duplexes at 5 Oguta Street, plot 906 Cadastral zone Wuse 11 Abuja.

"Others are a duplex at Plot 1271 Nike Street Cadastral zone AO5, Maitama District Abuja; a duplex at Phase 1 Unit No. 1 (Villa 1) Palm Springs Gold Estate, Cachez Turkey Projects Limited, Mpape, Abuja; 10 units of one room apartments at 8 Mistrata Street plot 232 Cadastral zone Wuse 11 Abuja; 5 units duplexes at Plot No 1070 Dakibiyu District Cadastral zone B10, Abuja; 16 units service apartments at Plot 1181 Thaba Tseka Crescent, Off IBB Way, Wuse 11, Abuja and 3 units of three bedroom flats at No. 1 Mubi Close, Plot 766. Cadastral Zone A01, Garki, Abuja.
The commission, which also attached photographs of some of the properties, said the interim forfeiture order to attach Sylva’s properties was granted by Justice A. R Mohammed on December 28, 2012.
But Sylva in a counter statement yesterday said none of the houses seized by EFCC are h is. Below is his statement
Our attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), announcing the seizure of a number of property alleged to be owed by Chief Timipre Sylva, former Bayelsa State Governor.

The claims by the EFCC arecompletely misleading. Not surprisingly, this style is in line with EFCC’s known bully-boy tactics and media hysteria.

The houses in question do not belong to Sylva.

Sylva’s property are intact, and fully covered by the order validly issued by Justice M.M. Kolo of the Abuja High Court on 27 December 2012. Sylva had applied to the court for "an interim order of court for the service of the originating process on the respondent to serve as a stay of all actions in respect of the properties - plot no 262, Cadastral Zone A02, Wuse 1, District, Abuja, plot 3192, located within Cadastral zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja, plot 232, Cadastral Zone A07, (No. 8 Mistrata Street; Wuse II, Abuja) - by the respondents, their agents, privies, representative or any other person deriving his/her authority from them; either by sealing off, confiscating, ejecting any person from the properties, trespassing into the properties or doing any other thing how ever sodescribed relating to the said properties pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice." This application was granted and hearing in the matter is fixed for 04 January 2013.

Justice A.R. Mohammed never granted any temporary asset forfeiture order to the EFCC on 21 December 2012. Rather he directed EFCC to put Sylva on notice and the substantive matter is fixed for 10 January 2013.

EFCC as a creation of the law cannot be seen to be acting lawlessly, and with impunity.