In a recent announcement, Dele Oyewale, spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), revealed that Timipre Sylva is wanted for his alleged involvement in a scheme involving the misappropriation of funds from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). The EFCC claims that these funds were part of an investment made by the NCDMB in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, aimed at establishing a modular refinery to enhance Nigeria’s domestic refining capabilities and encourage local participation in the oil and gas industry.
On November 6, 2025, the EFCC obtained an arrest warrant for Sylva from Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos. The warrant authorizes any officer of the EFCC, police, or other law enforcement personnel to apprehend Sylva and present him to the commission to address the alleged criminal charges against him.
The EFCC has called on the public to assist by providing any information regarding Sylva’s location, encouraging individuals to reach out to their local EFCC offices, police stations, or other security agencies.
The official statement revealed, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has issued a wanted notice for Timipre Sylva, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources and past Governor of Bayelsa State. Sylva is being sought in connection to alleged conspiracy and the misappropriation of $14,859,257, which is part of the funds allocated by the NCDMB to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the development of a refinery. On November 6, 2025, a Federal High Court in Lagos granted a warrant for the former Minister’s arrest, allowing law enforcement to detain him to answer the charges against him.”
Sylva, who held the ministerial position from 2019 to 2023, was also the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 Bayelsa elections. This development coincides with the EFCC’s increased focus on tackling high-profile corruption cases, as the agency seeks to recover misappropriated public funds and ensure accountability among influential political figures.
