ABUJA, Nigeria — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged $14.8 million fraud involving funds from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
In a statement issued Monday, the anti-graft agency said Sylva is wanted “in connection with a case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257,” which it said represented part of the funds injected by the NCDMB into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.
The EFCC said it secured a warrant for Sylva’s arrest on November 6, 2025, from a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Justice D.I. Dipeolu, who granted the order, stated that “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 Commission urged anyone with information on Sylva’s whereabouts to contact its zonal offices nationwide, the nearest police station, or other security agencies.
Sylva, who previously served as Minister of State for Petroleum under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, has not publicly responded to the EFCC’s declaration.
