The long arm of the law is gradually catching up with former governor of Bayelsa state, Mr. Timpre Sylva as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday, took possession of 48 properties belonging to him .
Sylva is presently standing trial at a Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged N6.46bn fraud. His first arraignment was on Tuesday, June 5, 2012.
Confirming the development in a statement, the spokesperson for EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, in Abuja said the interim forfeiture was informed by a court order granted by Justice A. R Mohammed last December 21.
He said, “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 3192 Cadastral zone AO, Maitama District Abuja; nine units (comprising six one-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments) at 8 Sefadu Street Wuse zone 2, plot 262 Cadastral zone AO2, Wuse Abuja; two unit 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; five unit 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 three unit of three-bedroom flats at No. 1 Mubi Close, Plot 766. Cadastral Zone A01, Garki, Abuja.”
Three of the six counts against Sylva reads, “That you, Timpre Sylva, as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others now at large, sometime between October, 2009 and February, 2010, at various places in Nigeria, including Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court did conspire to commit a crime to wit: conversion of properties and resources amounting to N2bn belonging to Bayelsa State Government.”
The substantive suit had been adjourned till Thursday, January 10, 2013.
