Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and one-time Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged case involving the dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.
In a public notice issued by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency said the funds in question formed part of the money 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 explained that Sylva, 61, who hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, is wanted “in connection with a case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion” relating to the multimillion-dollar investment.
“This notice is pursuant to a November 6, 2025, warrant of the Lagos State High Court,” the EFCC stated, urging members of the public with credible information about Sylva’s whereabouts to reach out to its offices nationwide.
“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,” the notice read.
The former minister, who served under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, has yet to respond publicly to the EFCC’s declaration as of press time.
The development marks another high-profile case in Nigeria’s ongoing anti-corruption drive, coming just months after similar notices were issued for politically exposed persons linked to financial misconduct.