- Safiu Kehinde
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged $14.8 million fraud.
Sylva was declared wanted in a public notice issued on Monday by the commission’s spokesman, Dele Oyewale.
According to the notice, the said the funds were provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for the construction of a refinery during the ex-Bayelsa governor’s tenure as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
The EFCC urged anyone with information on his whereabout to contact any of its office across Nigeria.
The notice read, “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: info@efcc.gov.ng or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”
Sylva’s declaration on the EFCC’s wanted list is coming weeks after his Abuja was reportedly raided by Nigerian Army with his brother arrested over involvement in the alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.