By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of public funds totaling $14,859,257.
This is coming after he was alleged to be part of those who plan to overthrow the Tinubu’s administration.
According to the anti-graft agency, the declaration follows a warrant of arrest issued against Sylva by a Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.
The charges relate to funds reportedly injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the establishment of a modular refinery project. The EFCC alleges the funds were diverted.
In a public notice issued by the agency, the EFCC called on Nigerians with information on Sylva’s whereabouts to contact its offices nationwide or report through designated phone lines and email addresses.
Sylva, a heavyweight in the All Progressives Congress (APC), previously served as Bayelsa State governor from 2007 to 2012 and later held the strategic petroleum portfolio under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. He also contested the Bayelsa governorship election in 2023.
Last month, the ex-minister was alleged to join other military officials in financing aborted coup against president Tinubu and other top officials; a situation which led to reorganisation of the Nigerian army personnel.
After the indictment, he was reported to be at large.
The latest development marks yet another episode in Sylva’s long-running legal battles with anti-corruption authorities.
He was previously arrested by the EFCC in 2013 over alleged graft, a matter that remains part of his broader political and legal history.
As of the time of filing this report, Sylva has not issued a public response to the EFCC’s declaration and his whereabouts is yet to be confirmed.
