An Abuja federal high court has rejected a bid by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize 48 properties allegedly belonging to former Governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed rejected the bid on the ground that the request by the anti-graft agency amounted to

The commission had in an originating summons filed in 2012 applied for an ex parte order of temporary  forfeiture of the said properties.

Delivering his ruling on EFCC’s application, Justice Mohammed held that the application is totally against laid down court processes since the commission had filed a related charge before a sister court for which the former Governor is standing trial.

The anti-graft agency had brought a criminal action against Mr Sylva at Court 3 of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division presided over by Justice Adamu Bello before proceeding with a civil action before Justice Mohammed in court 7, where it sought to take over the same properties it listed in the charge preferred against the former governor in the criminal case.
Justice Mohammed further held that EFCC is instituting a multiplicity of suits against the accused and the court cannot allow any process that amounts to an abuse of court processes and accordingly dismissed the application.