BREAKING: EFCC declares ex-Governor Timipre Sylva wanted over alleged 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.

The announcement was made in a notice published on the commission’s official X 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 — funds reportedly injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.

The notice stated: “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 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.”

Sylva, 61, hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The EFCC said the notice follows a warrant issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.

The agency urged anyone with useful information on his whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide — including Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja — or reach them via 08093322644, email at [email protected], or through the nearest police station or other security agencies.