The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has declared Chief Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources and former Governor of Bayelsa State, wanted.
The EFCC said that Sylva is wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 (fourteen million, eight hundred and fifty-nine thousand, two hundred and fifty-seven United States Dollars), being 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.
The anti-graft Agency said that it secured a warrant for the arrest of Sylva on November 6, 2025 at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
It said that the Order, granted by Justice D.I. Dipeolu stated that, “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 EFCC enjoined anyone with useful information on Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its Zonal Directorates across the country or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.
It would be recalled that some personnel of the Nigerian Army few weeks ago raided the Abuja residence of Chief Timipre Sylva in connection with an alleged coup plot that is still undergoing investigation by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
It was gathered that the raid was carried out by a “Special military team” following intelligence that allegedly linked the former Minister of State (Petroleum) to secret meetings with some detained military officers.
Sylva is believed to have fled Nigeria, but his brother, named Paga, was arrested during the raid, just as the operation was also extended to his Bayelsa residence.
In a swift response however, Syla through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru, debunked claims he fled the country to evade arrest and interrogation over the alleged coup plot to topple President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Bokoru explained that Sylva was abroad for routine medical check-up and other engagement, even as he admitted that the Abuja home of the former governor of Bayelsa State suffered some damages during the raid.
In the words of Bokoru; “Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. The officers did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently”.
