The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted.
In a statement on Monday, the anti-graft agency said 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 EFCC, a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, presided over by Justice D.I. Dipeolu, on November 6, 2025, granted a warrant for Sylva’s arrest.
The order directed any officer of the Commission, Police, or other law enforcement agencies to arrest and bring him before the EFCC to answer to the alleged offences.
The Commission urged anyone with useful information about Sylva’s whereabouts to contact its Zonal Offices nationwide, the nearest police station, or other security agencies.
This development comes just days after Sylva, through his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Julius Bokoru, denied claims of his involvement in an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.
Bokoru described those spreading the rumours as “desperate and narcissistic politicians” aiming to advance their 2027 ambitions by tarnishing Sylva’s reputation.
He accused them of being intimidated by Sylva’s influence and credibility in national politics.
He further described the former governor as “an unrepentant and thoroughbred democrat” who has shown steadfast support for President Tinubu and his administration. Bokoru recalled that Sylva recently mobilised the All Progressives Congress (APC) structure in Bayelsa State to endorse the President during the party’s expanded stakeholders’ meeting.
Bokoru also confirmed that Sylva’s Abuja residence was recently raided by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters, causing significant damage to the property.
He said the officers did not provide any reason for the operation.
He explained that Sylva and his wife were out of the country at the time, noting that the former minister was in the United Kingdom for a routine medical check-up and would proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference.
