EFCC Declares Former Minister Timipre Sylva Wanted Over $14.8m Fraud Allegation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, wanted over alleged financial misconduct involving over $14 million.

The anti-graft agency announced the development in a public notice shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday. According to the EFCC, Sylva is wanted in connection with “an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257,” part of funds reportedly invested by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for refinery construction.

The statement reads in part:

“The public is hereby notified that TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State for 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.”

The EFCC further disclosed that the notice was issued pursuant to a warrant granted by the Federal High Court, Lagos, on November 6, 2025.

Sylva, aged 61, hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The commission urged anyone with useful information about his whereabouts to contact its offices in Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja.

Information can also be provided through the EFCC’s hotline, 08093322644, its email address, info@efcc.gov.ng, or by reporting to the nearest police station or security agency.