Abuja, November 10, 2025 – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted.
The commission announced on Monday via a statement shared on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
According to the statement, Sylva is wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257 (Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven United States Dollars). The funds were reportedly part of an injection by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.
On November 6, 2025, the EFCC secured a warrant for Sylva’s arrest at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. Justice D.I. Dipeolu granted the order, stating:
“An order is made issuing a warrant to the Applicant or any Officer of the Commission, Police or any law enforcement officer for the arrest of the Respondent for the purpose of bringing him before the Commission to answer to the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed.”
The EFCC has urged anyone with information about Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its zonal directorates across Nigeria, or reach out to the nearest police station or other security agencies.
This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing investigation into alleged financial misconduct in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
