Court Extends Forfeiture Order For Sylva’s Property

Sylva

Justice A.R. Muhammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday granted the application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for an extension of the interim order of attachment granted it to take possession of 48 properties of former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva.

The initial order granted on December 21, 2012, was for 14 days.

Before the expiration of the order, EFCC through its lawyer, Festus Keyamo applied for an extension, arguing that it was imperative for the determination of all applications and the safety of the attached properties.

However, the respondent’s counsel, Benson Ibezim, had urged the court to vacate the order because it was an ex-parte order and that his client is challenging the competence of the court to even entertain the case.

In his ruling, Justice Muhammed maintained that aside from the fact that the applicant (EFCC) had applied for the extension of the order before the expiration of the subsisting one, he was granting the extension because the order was the crux of the matter.

“If I do not do so, the question would be why and what are we coming here to deliberate on next time. The order of 21 December is the main thrust of this matter, the court must order for its existence to enable the respondent to be heard”, he stated.

He thereafter adjourned the case to January 24, 2013.

Meanwhile the EFCC has also urged a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided by Justice Adamu Bello to strike out the application by Chief Sylva seeking the dismissal of the 6-count charge preferred against him. The charges borders on misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N6billion during his tenure as governor of Bayelsa State.

The case has been adjourned to February 20, 2013 for ruling.