Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, has once again found himself at the centre of a major corruption scandal, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) formally declares him wanted over an alleged multi-million-dollar fraud.
The development signals a new chapter in a history of controversy that has trailed Sylva from his days in office as governor to his time as a key player in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Sylva’s troubles started on May 8, 2013, when EFCC operatives arrested him at his Abuja residence over allegations of money laundering and fraudulent real estate transactions.
The arrest followed months of investigation into his finances shortly after he left office as governor of Bayelsa State.
Although he was later granted bail, the case set the tone for the recurring corruption allegations that have since dogged his political career.
Two years later, on May 28, 2015, the EFCC announced a court date in a fresh N19.2 billion fraud case linked to the former governor.
The charges alleged the diversion of public funds during his tenure in Bayelsa.
The case made headlines nationwide but eventually stalled amid procedural disputes and claims of political interference.
After several years of relative quiet, Sylva re-emerged in national politics as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration from 2019 to 2023.
During that period, he oversaw key petroleum sector reforms and the implementation of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) agenda.
However, it was also during his ministerial tenure that suspicions grew over large-scale financial transactions related to NCDMB’s investment in the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
Read also: EFCC declares Timipre Sylva, ex–Bayelsa governor wanted over alleged $14.8m fraud
The matter took a dramatic turn in late 2025. On October 25, security forces reportedly raided Sylva’s Abuja residence during an investigation into an alleged coup plot.
Sylva vehemently denied any involvement, calling the operation a case of mistaken identity.
Barely two weeks later, on November 6, a Federal High Court in Lagos issued an arrest warrant against him for alleged conversion of funds totalling about $14.86 million.
According to EFCC investigators, the funds were linked to a fraudulent diversion from NCDMB accounts intended for the refinery project.
By November 10, the EFCC escalated the matter, publicly declaring Sylva wanted.
In a statement, the agency alleged that the former minister and others conspired to divert millions of dollars from the NCDMB to a private company under the guise of investment.
The Commission revealed that Sylva’s name has been placed on both FBI and INTERPOL watchlists, marking one of the most serious legal challenges of his career.
Sylva’s media team has rejected the allegations, insisting that the investigation is politically motivated.
They maintain that the EFCC’s action is part of an effort to discredit the former minister, who remains an influential figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a potential contender in future elections.
