EFCC hands former Bayelsa governor Seriake Dickson back 48 houses seized from him

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials have returned 48 houses seized from former Bayelsa State governor Chief Timipre Sylva by its operatives during the tenure of ex-president Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

 

In office between 2008 and 2012, Chief Sylva was not allowed to run for a second term under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of which he was a member after falling out with Dr Jonathan. After he left office, he was subsequently charged with corruption by the EFCC and in 2013, the agency seized 48 houses from him.

 

After leaving office, in January 2013, Chief Sylva was prosecuted at the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged misappropriation of N6.46bn when he was governor of the Bayelsa State. Chief Sylva was first arraigned on Tuesday June 5, 2012, during which he denied the corruption charges, pleading not guilty.

 

Subsequently, Chief Sylva left the PDP and joined the All Progressives Congress, which won last year's elections. Earlier this year, Chief Sylva ran for governorship again, seeking to get his old job back but he was defeated by incumbent governor Seriake Dickson of the PDP.