Alleged Fraud: EFCC Seals Off Timipre Sylva’s Abuja Residence
Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to former Minister Timipre Sylva, Chief Julius Bokoru, yesterday condemned the sealing off of Sylva’s Maitama residence in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Bokoru, in a statement titled “A Grave Breach of Decency: EFCC’s Attempted Raid and Defacement of Sylva’s Family Home,” said the anti-graft agency carried out its action without a letter, subpoena, warrant, notification, or any adherence to lawful process.
He has therefore, criticized EFCC ‘s action as not only procedurally flawed, but also distressing to Sylva’s household, highlighting that it was executed without prior warning or engagement with the family.
According to him, the operation represented a violation of basic legal and ethical standards, asserting that Sylva had always demonstrated a willingness to cooperate with regulatory authorities, including the EFCC, under proper legal frameworks.
The former minister’s aide called on the EFCC to follow due process in all future actions and ensure that any enforcement measures are transparent, lawful, and respectful of personal and property rights.
He said: “No courtesy. No procedure. No humanity. It is behaviour unbecoming of any institution that claims to act in the national interest. What unfolded today at the Maitama residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was nothing short of an affront to decency and a troubling assault on the very principles that underpin a civilised society.
“Officers of the EFCC attempted yet another aggressive intrusion into his home and proceeded to spray-paint his walls in stark red, emblazoning the words “EFCC — Keep Off” as though marking the property of a fugitive rather than the home of a respected statesman”.
“What deepens the wound is that this is not merely a property; it is the home in which Chief Sylva’s children, relatives, and staff have been effectively encircled for weeks.
“It is the last space available to them, especially now that it appears they are not permitted to leave the country freely. To violate such a place,.without warning, without justification,.is to inflict terror upon innocent people who have no connection whatsoever to political gamesmanship.
“Where, one must ask, are his children expected to go? How long must they endure this atmosphere of fear and uncertainty?”
Bokoru decried the action, saying it is arbitrary and vindictive, violated democratic principles and values, insisting that it was not the conduct expected of an institution established to uphold justice.
He added: “We remain firmly convinced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not involved in these excesses. Throughout his long and distinguished public life, the President has shown unwavering respect for due process, fairness, and institutional integrity.
“This latest incident bears all the hallmarks of local political rivalry being misinterpreted, or mischievously presented, as federal instruction. It is a dangerous muddling of partisan ambition with national authority.
“Government agencies and parastatals must never allow themselves to become weapons in political contests. To do so weakens not only the institutions themselves but the very fabric of our democracy.
“Chief Sylva has, for decades, served Nigeria with calmness, loyalty, and an almost disarming sense of patriotism. From his stewardship of Bayelsa State to his contributions at the federal level and his continued, unwavering support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he has remained dignified even when confronted with provocation. His commitment to this nation has never faltered,” he added.
Bokoru lamented that the action, which he described as arbitrary and vindictive, violated democratic principles and values, asserting that it fell short of the conduct expected from an institution tasked with upholding justice.
