The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially declared Timipre Sylva, the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Governor of Bayelsa State, wanted for his alleged involvement in a $14,859,257 fraud case.
According to the anti-corruption agency, Sylva is being investigated over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of funds meant for the construction of a refinery, which were reportedly injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
In a public notice issued by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the agency stated:
“The public is hereby notified that TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of 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 the construction of a Refinery. Sylva, 61, is from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
“This notice is pursuant to a November 6, 2025 warrant of the Lagos State High Court.
“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, florin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: [email protected] or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”
The EFCC’s announcement follows a court-issued warrant of arrest dated November 6, 2025, urging the public to assist in locating the former minister.