By Nkechi Eze
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Bayelsa State Governor and one-time Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged multimillion-dollar fraud.
In an official notice shared via its verified X account on Monday, the anti-graft agency announced that Sylva is being sought in connection with a case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257 money reportedly invested by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the establishment of a refinery project.
The EFCC explained that the wanted declaration follows a warrant issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.
“The public is hereby notified that TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Governor of Bayelsa State, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged 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 refinery construction,” the agency stated.
Sylva, 61, who hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, has now been placed on the EFCC’s nationwide wanted list. The Commission urged anyone with credible information about his location to report to any of its offices across the country including Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu, Kano, Maiduguri, and others or to contact them via 08093322644, email at info@efcc.gov.ng, or through the nearest police station or security agency.
