ABUJA: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and one-time Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva wanted over allegations of financial misconduct involving $14,859,257.
In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency said the former minister is being sought in connection with a case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of public funds.
According to the EFCC, the amount in question was part of an investment made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for refinery construction.
The Commission disclosed that it obtained a warrant for Sylva’s arrest from the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on November 6, 2025.
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The order, granted by Justice D. I. Dipeolu, authorised the Commission or any law enforcement agency to apprehend the ex-governor and bring him before the EFCC for questioning.
The court order read in part: 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 EFCC further urged members of the public with credible information about Sylva’s whereabouts to report to any of its zonal offices across the country, the nearest police station, or other security agencies.
As of press time, the former minister had not issued any official statement regarding the development.
Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has faced multiple corruption allegations since leaving office.
The latest move by the EFCC signals a renewed effort to probe the management of funds linked to Nigeria’s oil and gas investment initiatives.
The Commission shared details of the case via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday.
