The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Governor of Bayelsa State and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.
In a statement issued on Monday, spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said the funds in question were part of money injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery project.
According to the statement, the Lagos State High Court issued a warrant for Sylva’s arrest on November 6, 2025, following investigations into the alleged financial misconduct.
“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 EFCC in an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257,” the agency said.
The commission urged anyone with useful information about Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices nationwide, the nearest police station, or reach the agency through its official hotline (08093322644) and email (info@efcc.gov.ng).
Sylva, 61, hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. His declaration as wanted adds to the EFCC’s ongoing clampdown on financial crimes involving high-profile public officials across Nigeria.
