The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that the former Governor of Bayelsa, Timipre Sylva, was gifted his 48 seized properties by the judiciary on a silver platter.
The EFCC continues to face public scrutiny by Nigerians who see the anti-corruption agency as a tool of President Muhammed Buhari to fight political opponents. Sylva, who is a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is no longer being prosecuted by the EFCC.
The EFCC had slapped 42 charges bordering on fraud, embezzlement, misappropriation and other financial crimes totaling N21.2 billion on the former Bayelsa governor, however those charges were dismissed by a Federal High Court judge.
In a series of tweets on social media sharing site, Twitter, the EFCC explained how Sylva was let off the hook.
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.”