The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, as a wanted person in connection with alleged financial crimes.
Details of the Alleged Fraud
According to the anti-graft agency's statement released on Monday, Sylva is wanted for conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 (Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven United States Dollars).
The funds in question were part of money injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.
Court Order and Arrest Warrant
The EFCC revealed that on November 6, 2025, it secured a warrant for the former Minister's arrest from the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Justice D.I. Dipeolu granted the order, which stated: "an order is made issuing a warrant to the Applicant or any Officer of the Commission, Police or any law enforcement officer for the arrest of the Respondent for the purpose of bringing him before the Commission to answer to the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed."
The commission has urged members of the public with any useful information about Sylva's whereabouts to contact any of its Zonal Directorates across Nigeria or the nearest Police Station and other relevant security agencies.
Political Context and Denials
This development comes just days after Sylva, through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Julius Bokoru, denied involvement in any coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.
Bokoru had claimed that desperate and narcissistic politicians plotting to actualize their ambitions in 2027 were behind the rumors, perceiving Sylva as their obstacle.
He described the former governor as an unrepentant and thoroughbred democrat who had shown unwavering support for President Tinubu and his administration, recently mobilizing APC structures in Bayelsa State to endorse the President.
Bokoru also confirmed that Sylva's Abuja home had been raided by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters, who inflicted significant damage on the property without providing any reason for their action.
He revealed that Sylva and his wife were already out of the country during the raid, with the former minister in the United Kingdom for a routine medical check and scheduled to attend a professional conference in Malaysia.
