The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and one-time Governor of Bayelsa State, wanted over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of public funds amounting to $14,859,257.
The anti-graft agency made the announcement in a public notice released on Monday, describing the case as one involving “part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.”
According to the EFCC, the declaration follows a warrant issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025, authorizing Sylva’s arrest in connection with the alleged financial misconduct.
The Commission’s statement identified Sylva, aged 61, as a native of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. It urged Nigerians and members of the international community with information on his whereabouts to contact EFCC offices across the country.
“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, its e-mail address [email protected], or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies,”the notice read.
Signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, the statement adds that the agency is intensifying its investigation into how the multi-million-dollar funds were allegedly diverted under the guise of refinery construction.
Okay News reports that Sylva, a prominent political figure and chieftain of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), served as Minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari and was once regarded as a key player in Nigeria’s oil and gas policy reforms.
