EFCC seizes ex-Gov. Slyva’s 48 properties

Posted by admin Bayelsa, General Politics, Governors, State News, Top Stories Friday, January 4th, 2013

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on
Thursday seized 48 properties belonging to the former governor of
Bayelsa state, Timpre Sylva who is being prosecuted at the Federal
High Court, Abuja for alleged misappropriation of N6.46 billion state
funds while in office.

According to a release issued by the Ag. Head, Media and Publicity,
Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, Justice A. R. Mohammed gave the seizure
order on December 21, 2012. The assets include a mansion at No. 3
River Niger Street; Plot 3192 Cadastral Zone AO, Maitama District
Abuja; Nine units (comprising six one bedroom and 3 two bedroom
apartments) at No.8 Sefadu Street Wuse Zone 2; Plot 262 Cadastral
zone AO2, Wuse Abuja; 2 units of Duplexes at No.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;
No.10 units of one room apartments at No.8 Mistrata Street Plot 232
Cadastral Zone Wuse 11 Abuja; 5 units of 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.

The first three of the six count charge against him 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 N2,
000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira) belonging to Bayelsa State
Government and derived from an illegal act, with the aim of
concealing the illicit origin of the said amount and you thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition Act), 2004 and punishable under Section 14
(1) of the same Act.

“That you, Timpre Sylva, as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others
now at large, on or about the 22nd of January, 2010, at Abuja, within
the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, converted the sum of N380,
000,000.00 (Three Hundred and Eighty Million Naira),property of the
Bayelsa State Government, through the account of one Habibu Sani
Maigidia, a Bureau De Change Operator with Account No.
221433478108, in Fin Bank Plc, which sum you knew represented
the proceeds of an illegal act with the aim of concealing the nature of
the proceeds of the said illegal act and you thereby committed an
offence contrary to Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under section 14(1) of
the same Act.

“That you, Timpre Sylva, as Governor of Bayelsa State, with others
now at large, on or about the 5th of February, 2010, at Abuja, within
the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, converted the sum of N50,
000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira), property of the Bayelsa State
Government, through the account of one Enson Benmer Limited with
Account No. 6152030001946, in First Bank Plc, which sum you knew
represented the proceeds of an illegal act with the aim of concealing
the nature of the proceeds of the said illegal act and you thereby
committed an offence contrary to Section 14(1) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition Act) 2004 and also punishable under
section 14(1) of the same Act.”

The substantive suit is adjourned to 10th January, 2013.

Meanwhile, Doifie Ola, the Media Adviser to ex-Gov. Sylva has
described EFCC claims as false and misleading.

He said “The houses in question do not belong to Sylva. Sylva’s
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.”wp_posts