The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14.8 million.
The anti-graft agency made the announcement in a statement issued on Sunday by its Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, revealing that the alleged offence involves funds meant for refinery construction.
According to the EFCC, Sylva is wanted in connection with an alleged case of “conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 (Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Seven United States Dollars), being 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 disclosed that it secured a warrant for the arrest of the former Minister on November 6, 2025, at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
The arrest warrant, granted by Justice D.I. Dipeolu, stated: “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’s declaration comes amid heightened scrutiny of officials who served in key positions within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, particularly those involved in projects funded by government agencies and parastatals.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, established to promote local content in the oil and gas industry, reportedly injected the funds into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited as part of efforts to boost domestic refining capacity. The EFCC now alleges that a portion of these funds was dishonestly converted.
The anti-corruption agency has called on members of the public to assist in locating the former minister, appealing to Nigerians with useful information on his whereabouts to come forward.
“The Commission also enjoins anyone with useful information on his whereabouts to contact any of its Zonal Directorates across the country or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies,” the statement read.
Sylva, who served as Governor of Bayelsa State and later as Minister of Petroleum Resources under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, has not yet issued any public statement regarding the EFCC’s declaration.
The development adds to the growing list of high-profile cases being pursued by the EFCC as part of its mandate to combat corruption and financial crimes in Nigeria’s public sector.
