By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of public funds amounting to $14.8 million.
In a public notice issued on Monday, the anti-graft agency said the case involves funds reportedly invested by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.
According to the EFCC, the declaration followed a warrant of arrest issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.
“The public is hereby notified that Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, is wanted by the EFCC in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257,” the notice signed by the agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, stated.
The Commission appealed to Nigerians with useful information on Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices or report to the nearest police station or security agency.
It listed its offices in Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Port Harcourt, Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan, and several other cities as contact points, and provided a hotline (08093322644) and an email address (info@efcc.gov.ng) for information sharing.
Sylva, who also served as the Minister of State for Petroleum during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has not responded publicly to the EFCC’s declaration as of press time.
The former minister has faced several corruption allegations since leaving office but has consistently denied wrongdoing, describing previous charges as politically motivated.
Reports indicate that the latest case may be linked to the controversial investments by the NCDMB during his tenure as supervising minister of petroleum.
Meanwhile, the EFCC said it remains committed to ensuring that public officials who misappropriate funds are held accountable in accordance with the law.
The development has triggered widespread reactions in Bayelsa and beyond, with political observers describing it as another major move by the anti-graft agency to strengthen accountability within the oil and gas sector.