BREAKING: EFCC Declares Bayelsa Ex-Governor Timipre Sylva Wanted For $14.8million Alleged Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, wanted in connection with an alleged $14,859,257 fraud.

In a statement on Monday, Dele Oyewale, Head of Media & Publicity for the EFCC, said Sylva is wanted for Conspiracy and Dishonest Conversion of funds that were 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 noted that Sylva, 61, hails from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

The notice follows a November 6, 2025, warrant issued by the Lagos State High Court.

The statement read, "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, is from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. This notice is pursuant to a November 6, 2025 warrant of the Lagos State High Court.

"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 e-mail address: [email protected] or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies," Oyewale added.

SaharaReporters had recently exclusively reported how some Nigerian Army personnel raided the Abuja residence of Timipre Sylva, in connection with the alleged coup plot currently under investigation by the DIA.

Multiple security sources had told the newspaper that the army raid occurred at Sylva’s home in the Maitama area of Abuja. 

According to insiders, a “special military team” carried out the operation after intelligence linked the “former South-South governor” to secret meetings allegedly held with some of the detained military officers.

“Nigerian Army special team ransacked the home of Timipre Sylva, who is believed to have fled Nigeria,” one top source familiar with the development had told SaharaReporters.

“He is the South-South former governor frequently mentioned in the case. His brother, named Paga, was picked up during the raid. The operation also extended to his Bayelsa residence.”

However, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru, Sylva dismissed claims that he fled the country to evade questioning, clarifying that he has been abroad for a routine medical check-up and a professional engagement.

Bokoru added that the former minister’s Abuja home suffered significant damage during the raid, adding that no clear reason or authorisation had been provided by the security personnel involved.

“Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid. The officers did not provide any categorical explanation for their actions, either at the time or subsequently,” he had said.