Court turns down EFCC’s request to seize Sylva’s properties

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday rejected moves by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to seize 48 property allegedly belonging to the former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva.

According to the court, the request was an abuse of court process since Sylva was being prosecuted over a related charge in another court.

In December 2012, the court presided over by Justice A. R. Mohammed, granted the EFCC leave to sustain the action, but also ordered the anti-graft agency to put Sylva on notice.

The EFCC had filed criminal charges bordering on money laundering against Sylva at Court 3 of the Abuja Federal High Court, which is presided over by Justice Adamu Bello, and the property which the Commission sought to take over in the civil action it brought against him in Justice Mohammed’s court are related to the criminal case.

Justice Mohammed held that it was an abuse of the court process for the EFCC to have brought an action before him ,relating to a charge before a sister court, for which Sylva is currently standing trial.

“It would appear that EFCC is instituting a multiplicity of suit against the accused” ,he said.

“This court cannot allow any process that amounts to an abuse and it is hereby dismissed.”

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