The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared Timipre Sylva, the former Governor of Bayelsa State and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, wanted in connection with allegations of conspiracy and the misappropriation of approximately $14.8 million.
The funds in question were reportedly allocated by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for the development of a refinery project under Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
Sources close to the EFCC revealed that international agencies, including the United States’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), INTERPOL, and the Metropolitan Police, have been notified and placed on high alert to assist in locating and apprehending Sylva.
An EFCC insider, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized the global reach of the operation, stating, “With alerts sent to key partners like the FBI and NCA, it’s only a matter of time before he’s brought back to face justice in Nigeria.”
The declaration follows a warrant issued by Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos on November 6, 2025. EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the details in a public statement, urging citizens to provide any information on Sylva’s whereabouts.
Sylva, aged 61 and hailing from Brass Local Government Area in Bayelsa, has been linked to the non-completion of the refinery project despite substantial investments.
This comes amid broader scrutiny, including a recent House of Representatives probe into a $35 million NCDMB investment in the same venture, which was flagged after a petition in May 2024.
In response, Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, dismissed the allegations as politically motivated attacks aimed at undermining his influence.
Bokoru stated that Sylva, currently undergoing medical checks in the UK, intends to cooperate with the EFCC upon his return.
“This is a calculated onslaught by those intimidated by his political stature,” Bokoru said, affirming Sylva’s clean record and commitment to due process.
This isn’t Sylva’s first brush with the EFCC. In 2016, during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, he faced charges leading to the seizure of 48 properties, which were later returned after the case was dismissed.
More recently, his Abuja home was raided in October over unverified coup allegations, which he vehemently denied, citing his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
As investigations continue, stakeholders in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts highlight the importance of transparency in public fund management, particularly in the oil sector. Updates on this story will follow as more details emerge.
