Follow @9jaLife An Abuja High Court has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against tampering with property belonging to former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva. Justice M.M. Kolo gave the order on December 27, while ruling ona motion filed by the former governor who is also facing money laundering charges. Sylva had on December 24, filed a suit at the court for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights. Joined in the suit as respondents were Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, and the EFCC. He asked the court for "an interim order of court for the service of the originating process on the respondent to serve as a stay ofall actions in respect of the properties-plot no 262, Cadastral Zone A02, Wuse 1, District, Abuja, plot 3192, located within Cadastral Zone A06 Maitama District, Abuja, plot 232, Cadastral Zone A07, (No. 8 Mistrata Street; Wuse II, Abuja)-by the respondents, their agents, privies, representative or any other person deriving his/her authority from them; either by sealing off, confiscating, ejecting any person from the properties, trespassing into the properties or doing any other thing how ever so described relating to the said properties pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice." The application was granted as requested. In an affidavit in support of his application, Sylva said the houses were acquired before his election as governor of Bayelsa State. He described as unconstitutional, oppressive, null and void EFCC's attempt to seal or seize property duly declared in his Assets Declaration Form during his assumption of office in 2007. A statement by Sylva's Media Adviser, Doifie Ola, said the EFCC was being used to harass the former governor and his family. He said: "Few people in the present political dispensation have seen more persecution by state institutions than Chief Timipre Sylva. Since leaving office in January 2012, and denied a right to re-election by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) mandarins, Sylva has faced persistent state persecution. "Even his family, friends and associates have not been spared from molestation and intimidation by the EFCC," Ola stated. According to him in the name of a corruption prosecution, [...]
