BREAKING: EFCC declares ex-minister Timipre Sylva wanted over $14.8m fraud allegation

BREAKING: EFCC declares ex-minister Timipre Sylva wanted over $14.8m fraud allegation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted over alleged involvement in a $14.8 million fraud.

According to a statement signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Monday, Sylva is being sought in connection with a case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.

The commission said the funds in question were part of the investment made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery project.

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“The public is hereby notified that TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and former Governor of Bayelsa State, 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 notice read.

The EFCC added that the declaration followed a warrant issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.

Sylva, 61, hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The anti-graft agency urged anyone with useful information on his whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide or the nearest police station.

The EFCC listed its offices in Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, and Abuja, or via telephone at 08093322644 and email: info@efcc.gov.ng.

BREAKING: EFCC declares ex-minister Timipre Sylva wanted over $14.8m fraud allegation