The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Chief Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and one-time Governor of Bayelsa State, wanted over allegations of financial misconduct involving more than $14.8 million.
According to a statement released by the anti-graft agency, Sylva is accused of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of funds totalling $14,859,257, which were allegedly misappropriated from resources provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The EFCC alleged that the funds were allocated to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery project, but were instead diverted for purposes other than those approved.
The Commission stated that despite several invitations, the former minister failed to appear to clarify his role in the financial dealings, prompting his official listing as a wanted person.
Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari, also held the position of Governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012. He was a key figure in Nigeria’s oil sector reforms and in the development of local content policies during his tenure.
The EFCC called on members of the public with useful information about his whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide or report via its official communication channels.
As of the time of filing this report, Chief Sylva has not publicly responded to the allegations. Efforts to reach his aides and legal representatives for comment were unsuccessful.
This development adds to the growing list of high-profile corruption cases currently under investigation by the EFCC, as part of its renewed efforts to recover public funds and hold former government officials accountable for financial impropriety.
