The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and one-time Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by the Commission’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC said Sylva is wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.
According to the statement, the sum in question was part of the funds reportedly injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.
The EFCC disclosed that it had obtained a warrant of arrest against Sylva from the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on November 6, 2025.
The order, signed by Justice D. I. Dipeolu, authorizes “any officer of the Commission, the police, or any other law enforcement officer” to arrest the respondent for the purpose of bringing him before the EFCC to answer to the alleged offences.
The Commission further urged members of the public with useful information regarding Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices across the country, the nearest police station, or other security agencies.
As of the time of filing this report, the former governor had not issued any official statement in response to the EFCC’s declaration.
