The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, wanted for allegedly conspiring and dishonestly converting $14,859,257.
According to a public notice issued on Monday by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the money was part of funds released by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board for the construction of a refinery under Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
Oyewale said the anti-graft agency obtained a warrant for Sylva’s arrest on November 6, 2025, from the Federal High Court in Lagos.
“The court granted an order issuing a warrant for the arrest of the respondent to bring him before the commission to answer for the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed,” the statement read.
The EFCC urged anyone with useful information about Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its offices nationwide or report to the nearest police station.
Sylva, 61, is a former governor of Bayelsa State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress.
This development comes weeks after the House of Representatives launched an investigation into a $35 million investment by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in a refinery project that never took off in the Niger Delta.
The House motion, moved by lawmaker Billy Osawaru, questioned the non-existence of Atlantic International Refinery despite heavy federal funding five years ago.
Sylva recently made headlines when the military raided his Abuja residence on October 25 over alleged links to an attempted coup. His brother and driver were arrested during the operation, though his media aide, Julius Bokoru, denied the allegations and criticised the military for damaging his property.
