BREAKING: EFCC Declares Ex-Governor Timipre Sylva Wanted Over $14.8m Fraud

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 crimes.

According to a public notice released on the EFCC’s official social media pages and signed by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity, Sylva is wanted in connection with a case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.

The funds were allegedly part of an investment by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for refinery construction.

The EFCC said the wanted notice follows a warrant issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.

The agency urged anyone with useful information about Sylva’s whereabouts to contact its offices nationwide or reach out through info@efcc.gov.ng, or call 08093322644.

The statement reads in part:

“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 EFCC in an alleged case of Conspiracy and Dishonest Conversion of $14,859,257. Sylva, 61, hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.”

This development comes weeks after reports surfaced linking Sylva to an alleged coup plot, leading to a military raid on his Abuja residence where his brother and personal aide were reportedly arrested.

However, Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, has denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the former governor has no link to the alleged plot and was abroad on medical and official engagements at the time of the incident.

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