EFCC declares ex-minister Timipre Sylva wanted

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted for alleged involvement in financial crimes.

In a notice signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity, and issued on Monday via its official Facebook page, the EFCC stated that Sylva is wanted in connection with an alleged case of “conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257” — funds said to have been 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 anti-graft agency, “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.”

The commission added that the notice followed a warrant issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.

The EFCC urged anyone with useful information about his whereabouts to contact its offices across the country or report to the nearest police station or other security agencies.

“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,” the notice read.