The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-governor of Bayelsa State, wanted in connection with an alleged case of financial crime.
According to a statement released by the anti-graft agency on Monday, Sylva is wanted for an alleged conspiracy and “dishonest conversion” of funds totalling $14,859,257.
The EFCC alleges that the converted money was part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.
The Commission confirmed that it secured a warrant for the arrest of the former Minister on November 6, 2025, from a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
The order, granted by Justice D.I. Dipeolu, authorises the EFCC, Police, or any law enforcement officer to arrest Sylva “for the purpose of bringing him before the Commission to answer to the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed.”
The EFCC urged the public to contact any of its Zonal Directorates, the nearest Police Station, or other security agencies with any useful information regarding Sylva’s whereabouts. As of press time, Sylva, 61, hasn’t responded to the anti-graft agency declaring him wanted.
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He served as minister of state for Petroleum Resources of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023 and governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012.
Sylva’s political career began in 1992 when he won a seat in the House of Assembly Election representing Brass constituency in old Rivers State.
At the time, he was the youngest of all the members in the House of Assembly.
His political career continued when he was appointed as the Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Petroleum in 2004 under the auspices of Edmund Daukoru.
