By Peter Omopo
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 an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257.
In a public notice issued on Monday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the case involves funds provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for refinery construction.
According to the statement, “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 commission said a warrant for Sylva’s arrest was issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025, in connection with the investigation.
EFCC described the 61-year-old as being from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and urged members of the public with useful information about his whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices nationwide.
“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja offices, or through 08093322644, its email address: info@efcc.gov.ng, or the nearest police station and other security agencies,” the statement added.
The EFCC’s announcement comes amid ongoing anti-corruption investigations targeting high-profile individuals linked to the oil and gas sector.
