The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, wanted over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14.86 million.
According to the spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Dele Oyewale, the funds in question were part of an investment made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for a refinery project that allegedly never materialized.
A Federal High Court in Lagos issued an arrest warrant on November 6, 2025, granting law enforcement agencies the authority to apprehend Sylva and present him to the EFCC for questioning.
The commission also disclosed that Sylva has been placed on international watchlists, including those of the FBI, Interpol, and UK law enforcement.
Moreover, the case has drawn heightened attention, especially as it follows a recent House of Representatives probe into the mismanagement of a $35 million federal investment in the Niger Delta’s modular refinery projects.
Meanwhile, Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, criticized the EFCC’s actions as politically motivated, accusing the agency of bypassing established protocols and formal communication channels.
Bokoru also claimed that the allegations are part of a coordinated effort to tarnish Sylva’s reputation, shifting from previous coup-related accusations to financial misconduct.
He emphasized Sylva’s intention to cooperate with the EFCC after completing a medical check-up in the UK and reiterated his principal’s innocence, describing the refinery project as a legitimate and transparent undertaking.
This development comes amid lingering controversies, including an October raid on Sylva’s Abuja residence over alleged coup-related suspicions.
His aide maintained that these accusations are part of a broader campaign to undermine Sylva’s political influence.