Sylva Denies Report Of 48 Houses, To Sue For Libel

His reply follows a report published by a national daily, which stated that the Sylva had retrieved 48 of his property which was seized during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

 

According to a statement issued by the former governor’s media aide, Doifie Buokoribo, on Monday, Mr. Sylva said neither he nor the courts had at any time confirmed his ownership of such property.

 

While describing the reports as “wholly speculative and vindictive,” Sylva threatened legal action against publishers of the report.

 

The statement read, “We have read a report in a national newspaper, which was reproduced by a few online publications and in the social media, claiming that Chief Timipre Sylva had retrieved 48 of his property which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission seized during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan.

 

“We view this report with disgust, given its unconcealed speculation and vindictiveness regarding such a sensitive matter.

 

“For the avoidance of doubt, Sylva does not own 48 buildings in Abuja or anywhere in the world. So the issue of reclaiming ‘48 houses’ does not arise.’

 

The statement said the former governor had only three houses in Abuja, which he built before he became governor.

 

It said this point had been made several times before, and neither EFCC nor those who had used EFCC as a tool of persecution against Sylva during the Goodluck Jonathan administration had contradicted it.

 

“EFCC had taken their allegations of property ownership against Sylva to several courts without establishing anything against the former governor during the Jonathan era.

 

“Beyond the commission’s routine media prosecution, no court of law has found Sylva guilty of any crime.

 

“Indeed, in the course of the trials at the Federal High Court, Abuja, owners of some of the properties wrongfully attributed to him joined to claim their houses.

 

“The court ruled on the matter of the said 48 properties since 2013. Why is it now a subject of media attention? Clearly, this is a sponsored publication.

 

“After failing to prove any crime against Sylva in a democratic court of law for the past four years, this latest media show is another desperate attempt to rubbish him politically.

 

“To correct the wrong impression that sponsors of the falsehood against him are, obviously, trying to create, Sylva has instructed his lawyers to take legal action against publishers of the fake story.”