Refinery Construction: EFCC Declares Ex-Bayelsa Governor Timipre Sylva Wanted

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Timipre Sylva, has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A statement from the agency on Monday urged anyone with useful information on his whereabouts to contact any of its Zonal Directorates across the country or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.

It was disclosed that the former Minister of Petroleum Resources is wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257, being part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.

The EFCC said it secured a warrant for the arrest of Mr Sylva on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The court order, it explained, was granted by Justice D.I. Dipeolu.

“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 anti-money laundering organisation stated in the statement today.