Sylva Denies Ownership Of Seized Confiscated Houses

The former governor of Bayelsa State; Mr Timipre Sylva has denied ownership of 48 houses seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission; (EFCC) on Thursday.

The Tide learnt that the anti-graft agency sealed some of the buildings in Abuja last week.

The spokesperson for the former governor; Mr Doifie Ola on Sunday said none of the former governor’s properties was seized by the anti-graft agency.

Ola in a statement noted that the former governor does not own any 48 properties in Abuja or anywhere in the world

He further explained that all the properties owned by his boss were aptly declared ahead of his swearing as the elected governor of Bayelsa state.

According to him, the prosecution of the former governor is politically motivated and that there is no court order directing the seizure of properties belonging to the former governor.

Meanwhile the anti-graft agency said it has valid court orders as officials of the anti-graft agency commenced the sealing of some of the properties allegedly belonging to the Mr Sylva within the nation’s capital.

The court order provided by EFCC reads : “that an interim order is hereby made temporarily attaching the properties listed in the schedule to this application to enable the applicant investigate the alleged complaint submitted to it against the respondent in respect of the said properties listed in the schedule and attached to this order.”

The order is for two weeks only and has only nine properties listed in the schedule.

Despite the controversy over this order, the question of who owns these houses is yet to be answered.

Mr Silva is facing charges of misappropriation of N6.46 billion state funds while in office.

The former Governor could not realised his re-election ambition as he was disqualified by the screening committee of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP).