The Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC) and the media team of former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva are at loggerheads over control of the former governor’s properties.
While the EFCC claimed to have taken possession of the governor’s properties, his media tea, countered the claim, describing it as misleading.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, January 3, 2013 took possession of 48 properties of the former governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Timpre 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,” EFCC had earlier stated in a release issued on Thursday by Wilson Uwujaren, its acting head of media and publicity,
According to the commission, the interim forfeiture order to attach Sylva’s properties was granted by Justice A. R Mohammed on December 21, 2012.
“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 3 two bedroom apartments) at 8 Sefadu Street Wuse zone 2, plot 262 Cadastral zone AO2, Wuse Abuja; twp units duplexes at 5 Oguta Street, plot 906 Cadastral zone Wuse 11 Abuja,” the statement further read.
“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 .
Sylva was first arraigned on Tuesday June 5, 2012.”
Sylva is facing charges ranging from conversion of properties and resources amounting to N2bn belonging to Bayelsa State Government; conversion of the sum of N380m property of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Habibu Sani Maigidia, a Bureau De Change Operator; and conversion of the sum of N50m property of the Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Enson Benmer Limited, among others, with the substantive suit adjourned to 10th January 2013.
However, debunking the claim, the governor’s team described EFCC’s statement as false and completely misleading.
“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 are completely misleading. Not surprisingly, this style is in line with EFCC’s known bully-boy tactics and media hysteria,” Doufie Ola, Sylva`s chief press secretary stated in a counter release.
He said the houses in question do not belong to Sylva and that his properties 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 so described relating to the said properties pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” Ola noted.
He added that the application was granted and hearing in the matter was fixed for 4th January 2013.
“Justice A.R. Mohammed never granted any temporary asset forfeiture order to the EFCC on 21 December 2012,” he further said. “Rather he directed EFCC to put Sylva on notice and the substantive matter is fixed for 10th January 2013.”
Ola urged EFCC, “as a creation of the law,” to ensure that it is not “seen to be acting lawlessly, and with impunity.”
