A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of nine properties linked to former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, to the Federal Government.

The order was granted by Justice Obiora Egwuatu on April 24 following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

In his ruling, the judge stated that the properties were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and should remain under interim forfeiture pending the hearing of a motion for final forfeiture.

The court also directed that the order be published in national newspapers to allow any interested party to appear within 14 days and show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Justice Egwuatu further approved the EFCC’s request for the publication of the order in newspapers including ThisDay, The Guardian, Punch, Vanguard, Tribune, and Independent within seven days of obtaining the certified true copy of the ruling.

The matter was adjourned to May 25 for a compliance report.

The EFCC filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/607/2026 under the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006. Counsel to the anti-graft agency, Oluwaleke Atolagbe, argued that the assets were reasonably suspected to have been acquired through unlawful means.

The affected properties, all located in high-value areas of Abuja, include multiple residential estates, duplexes, office complexes, and blocks of flats in Dakibiyu, Mpape, Garki, Wuse II, Maitama, and Wuse Zone 4.

Sylva, who is reportedly at large, is also facing a 13-count charge filed by the Federal Government over allegations linked to a plot to oust President Bola Tinubu.