Why ex-Gov Sylva recovered 48 houses – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has explained why a
former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, was able to
recover the 48 houses it seized from him.

The EFCC in a series of tweets on its official Twitter handle
alleged that Justice Adeniyi Ademola was the one who thwarted the
case in a controversial ruling.

The anti-graft agency had come under fire recently for returning
the seized houses to the former governor who is a chieftain of the
All Progressives Congress.

Although the return of the assets was exclusively reported by
The PUNCH not TheNigerialawyer in October 2016, it resurfaced
recently and went viral on the Internet.

However, the EFCC said Sylva got away because of the judiciary
which it described as an obstacle to the war on corruption.

The anti-graft agency said the case was controversial because
Sylva was discharged barely a few days to the APC governorship
primary in 2015.

The EFCC said, “He (Sylva) was facing 42 charges before Justice
Mohammed of the FHC Abuja. The said properties were forfeited as
part of the trial. The EFCC applied to consolidate charges against
him before Justice Mohammed after the DPP, on June 1, 2015,
withdrew its own charges.

“On June 10, 2015, rather than hear the case, Justice Mohammed
dismissed the charges without him and co-defendants taking their
pleas. The EFCC expressed its discontent at the ruling, and Chief
Justice of the Federal High Court, Abuja reassigned the case to
Justice Ademola of the FHC Abuja.

“On June 12, 2015 the EFCC filed fresh charges and on July 9,
2015 and brought 50 counts against him before Justice Ademola. The
EFCC had expected a speedy/fair trial. But no! Few days to the
Bayelsa State governorship election, Justice Ademola freed him
without pleas taken.”

The explanation of the EFCC, however, did not go down well with
a large number of its followers on Twitter as they asked the EFCC
to immediately appeal the judgement.

They argued that the commission had in the past flouted court
orders when handling cases involving politicians in the opposition
parties but was treating politicians in the APC with kid
gloves.

A cross section of Twitter users, however, blamed the judiciary
for striking out the case.

A user, Khunum-Khufu, wrote, “Sylva had a corruption case
against him in court when President Muhammadu Buhari made him
chairman of his inauguration committee.”

Another user, Onwa, wrote, “So obviously there are some powerful
people protecting Sylva from the law. If it’s not from EFCC, then
it’s from a higher power.”

Jacob Ehwarieme wrote, “Nigerian judiciary is inept and corrupt
politicians are enjoying and feasting on our comatose law books.
God punish the wicked ones, turn them to hell fire.”

The EFCC had on January 3, 2013 taken possession of 48
properties of Sylva while he was on trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has explained why a
former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, was able to
recover the 48 houses it seized from him.

The EFCC in a series of tweets on its official Twitter handle
alleged that Justice Adeniyi Ademola was the one who thwarted the
case in a controversial ruling.

The anti-graft agency had come under fire recently for returning
the seized houses to the former governor who is a chieftain of the
All Progressives Congress.

Although the return of the assets was exclusively reported by
The PUNCH not TheNigerialawyer in October 2016, it resurfaced
recently and went viral on the Internet.

However, the EFCC said Sylva got away because of the judiciary
which it described as an obstacle to the war on corruption.

The anti-graft agency said the case was controversial because
Sylva was discharged barely a few days to the APC governorship
primary in 2015.

The EFCC said, “He (Sylva) was facing 42 charges before Justice
Mohammed of the FHC Abuja. The said properties were forfeited as
part of the trial. The EFCC applied to consolidate charges against
him before Justice Mohammed after the DPP, on June 1, 2015,
withdrew its own charges.

“On June 10, 2015, rather than hear the case, Justice Mohammed
dismissed the charges without him and co-defendants taking their
pleas. The EFCC expressed its discontent at the ruling, and Chief
Justice of the Federal High Court, Abuja reassigned the case to
Justice Ademola of the FHC Abuja.

“On June 12, 2015 the EFCC filed fresh charges and on July 9,
2015 and brought 50 counts against him before Justice Ademola. The
EFCC had expected a speedy/fair trial. But no! Few days to the
Bayelsa State governorship election, Justice Ademola freed him
without pleas taken.”

The explanation of the EFCC, however, did not go down well with
a large number of its followers on Twitter as they asked the EFCC
to immediately appeal the judgement.

They argued that the commission had in the past flouted court
orders when handling cases involving politicians in the opposition
parties but was treating politicians in the APC with kid
gloves.

A cross section of Twitter users, however, blamed the judiciary
for striking out the case.

A user, Khunum-Khufu, wrote, “Sylva had a corruption case
against him in court when President Muhammadu Buhari made him
chairman of his inauguration committee.”

Another user, Onwa, wrote, “So obviously there are some powerful
people protecting Sylva from the law. If it’s not from EFCC, then
it’s from a higher power.”

Jacob Ehwarieme wrote, “Nigerian judiciary is inept and corrupt
politicians are enjoying and feasting on our comatose law books.
God punish the wicked ones, turn them to hell fire.”

The EFCC had on January 3, 2013 taken possession of 48
properties of Sylva while he was on trial.