By Muhammed Akindele
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted over alleged involvement in a case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.
In a statement released on its official Facebook page on Monday, the anti-graft agency said the funds were part of money injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.
According to the notice, the EFCC said the public is hereby notified that Sylva, 61, from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, is wanted for questioning in relation to the alleged financial crimes.
The Commission added that the warrant for his arrest was issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.
The EFCC appealed to members of the public with useful information about Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its offices across Nigeria or report to the nearest police station.
“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices, or through 08093322644, or email: info@efcc.gov.ng
,” the notice read.
The statement, signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, emphasized that Sylva’s case involves alleged diversion of public funds meant for developmental projects in the oil and gas sector.
As of press time, the former minister is yet to respond to the EFCC declaration.
