By Abiola Olawale
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Chief Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Governor of Bayelsa State, wanted over an alleged connection with a case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving over $14.8 million in public funds.
This declaration was made public via an official notice issued by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity.
In the notice, EFCC called on security agencies and the general public to assist in locating the former Governor.
Details of the declaration revealed that EFCC is seeking Sylva over the alleged diversion of a sum of $14,859,257. These funds were reportedly part of a capital injection by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
The notice reads in part: “The public is hereby notified that TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Conspiracy and Dishonest Conversion of $14,859,257 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.
“Sylva, 61, is from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
This notice is pursuant to a November 6, 2025 warrant of the Lagos State High Court.
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 wanted notice comes amidst sustained legal and political turbulence surrounding the former Governor.
Sylva has previously faced multiple corruption charges from the EFCC over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as Governor, though some of those charges were later struck out or withdrawn by the prosecution.
In late October 2025, an aide to Sylva confirmed that his Abuja residence was raided by security operatives, an incident which the aide claimed was linked to “desperate and narcissistic politicians” spreading rumours of Sylva’s alleged involvement in an unrelated coup plot. Sylva’s camp has consistently dismissed all allegations of wrongdoing.
