Abuja, Nigeria — November 11, 2025:
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted over alleged involvement in a $14,859,257 (approximately ₦24 billion) fraud linked to a controversial oil refinery project.
In a public notice issued on Monday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the anti-graft agency is seeking the former minister’s arrest over charges bordering on conspiracy, corrupt enrichment, and dishonest conversion of public funds.
According to the EFCC, the funds in question were allegedly provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, a company purportedly tied to Sylva, during his tenure in office.
Placed on International Watchlists
Senior EFCC officials confirmed that the former Bayelsa State governor has been placed on multiple international watchlists, including those of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Interpol, the United Kingdom Metropolitan Police, and security agencies in Canada.
An EFCC source said the Commission took the step to ensure that Sylva would not evade justice or travel freely across international borders.
“The EFCC has formally written to its international partners and security networks, including the FBI, Interpol, and the UK Metropolitan Police, requesting that Sylva be tracked, flagged, and detained if found within their jurisdictions,” a senior investigator disclosed.
EFCC’s Investigation Trail
The Commission’s probe reportedly centers on the misappropriation of funds earmarked for the development of a modular refinery project in the Niger Delta.
According to investigators, the NCDMB released the funds to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited under a partnership arrangement meant to boost local refining capacity and promote energy self-sufficiency.
However, EFCC sources allege that the project failed to take off as planned, and the funds were diverted for personal and political use, prompting a comprehensive financial investigation.
The EFCC reportedly traced financial flows and ownership structures that allegedly linked the company’s key accounts and signatories to Sylva and close associates.
Sylva’s Media Aide Responds
Reacting to the development, Julius Bokoru, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Timipre Sylva, confirmed that the former minister is currently in the United Kingdom, describing the EFCC’s declaration as “politically motivated.”
“Chief Sylva is not on the run. He is in the United Kingdom attending to personal engagements. The EFCC’s action is yet another chapter in the ongoing campaign of persecution,” Bokoru said in a statement.
“The allegations are baseless and an attempt to smear his reputation following his recent political activities,” he added.
Bokoru maintained that Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State and minister under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has always made himself available for official inquiries and has no reason to evade the law.
Legal and Political Implications
The EFCC’s move marks one of the most significant anti-corruption actions of the year involving a former top energy official. Legal analysts say the case could test the strength of Nigeria’s cooperation with global law enforcement networks on financial crimes.
Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from 2019 to 2023, played a key role in Nigeria’s oil policy reforms, including the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). He resigned in 2023 to contest the Bayelsa governorship election, which he later lost to incumbent Governor Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Analysts suggest that his ongoing political influence and his ties to major oil projects may have prompted renewed scrutiny from the anti-corruption body.
EFCC Intensifies Cross-Border Cooperation
The EFCC has in recent months strengthened collaboration with international financial intelligence units and law enforcement agencies to recover stolen assets and apprehend high-profile suspects.
According to Commission insiders, the move against Sylva is part of a broader strategy to close financial leakages in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and recover funds tied to failed or fraudulent public-private partnerships.
The EFCC has also urged the public to provide useful information on Sylva’s whereabouts, assuring that all tips will be treated with strict confidentiality.
“We encourage anyone with credible information to come forward. The EFCC remains committed to ensuring accountability, no matter how highly placed the individuals involved,” the notice read.
Background: NCDMB’s Role
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board was established to increase the participation of Nigerian firms in the oil and gas industry and promote local content development.
Under Sylva’s tenure as supervising minister, the NCDMB initiated several projects, including investments in modular refineries intended to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
However, some of these projects, including the Atlantic International Refinery initiative, have faced allegations of financial mismanagement and lack of transparency.
What Happens Next
With the former minister now declared wanted, the EFCC is expected to seek an international arrest warrant if he fails to return voluntarily for questioning.
Legal experts note that the next steps could involve collaboration between Nigerian and UK authorities, especially if formal extradition becomes necessary.
If charged and convicted under Nigeria’s anti-corruption laws, Sylva could face imprisonment, forfeiture of assets, and disqualification from holding public office.
As of press time, EFCC operatives have reportedly sealed off some properties linked to the case in Abuja and Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
