UPDATE | EFCC To Re-Arraign Sylva Before Court of Appeal

Former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have disagreed over the existence of 48 houses allegedly traced to the ex-governor.

While Sylva claims to own only three houses in Abuja, the EFCC spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, insists that the ex-governor owns the 48 houses and that the commission had begun fresh moves to re-arraign Sylva before the Court of Appeal.

It was reported on Monday by The Punch that the EFCC had traced and sealed off 48 properties allegedly owned by Sylva.

The EFCC had subsequently arraigned the ex-governor for an alleged N19bn fraud and slammed 50 charges against him. Three Federal High Courts had, however, struck out the case.

Following Sylva’s victory, the ex-governor had reclaimed ownership of the properties, some of which had been rented out.

But in a statement on Monday, Sylva denied ownership of the houses, insisting that he owned only three houses in Abuja.

However, the spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the existence of the houses to our correspondent on the telephone.

He said the anti-graft agency had filed an appeal at the Appellate Court demanding that Sylva should not have access to the properties.

He said, “I have just spoken to Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) who is in charge of the case. He confirmed to me that the EFCC has begun moves to appeal the case, which means that he (Sylva) should have no access to the houses.”

Some of the houses, according to Uwujaren, include: 

A mansion at 3, River Niger Street, Plot 3192 Cadastral Zone AO, Maitama District, Abuja; nine units (comprising six one-bedroom and three two-bedroom apartments) at 8, Sefadu Street, Wuse, Zone 2, Plot 262 Cadastral Zone AO2, Wuse, Abuja, and two duplexes at 5, Oguta Street, Plot 906 Cadastral Zone, Wuse II, Abuja.

Others include:

A duplex on 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 II, Abuja; five units duplexes on Plot No 1070 Dakibiyu District, Cadastral Zone B10, Abuja; 16 units service apartments at Plot 1181 Thaba Tseka Crescent, off IBB Way, Wuse II, Abuja, and 3 units of three-bedroom flats at No. 1 Mubi Close, Plot 766 Cadastral Zone A01, Garki, Abuja.