EFCC declares Timipre Sylva wanted over $14.8m fraud

By Obasola Olatunde

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, wanted over alleged involvement in a $14.86 million fraud linked to the construction of a refinery.

According to the EFCC, Sylva is being sought in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 funds reportedly injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for a refinery project.

A Federal High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice D. I. Dipeolu, on November 6, 2025, issued a warrant for Sylva’s arrest, authorizing EFCC operatives, police officers, or any other law enforcement agents to apprehend him and produce him before the Commission for questioning.

“An order is made issuing a warrant to the applicant or any officer of the Commission, Police or any law enforcement officer for the arrest of the respondent for the purpose of bringing him before the Commission to answer to the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed,” the court order stated.

The Commission urged anyone with useful information about the former minister’s whereabouts to contact its nearest zonal office, the police, or other security agencies nationwide.