By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between August 2019 and March 2023, wanted in connection with alleged conspiracy and the dishonest conversion of US$14,859,257.
The anti-graft agency made this known in a public notice issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale.
According to the statement, the money in question was part of the funds released by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical for refinery construction.
In the notice, the EFCC stated, “The public is hereby notified that TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Conspiracy and Dishonest Conversion of $14,859,257-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.
“Sylva, 61, is from Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. This notice is pursuant to a November 6, 2025, warrant of the Lagos State High Court.
“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its Ibadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt, or Abuja offices or through 08093322644; its e-mail address: [email protected] or the nearest Police Station and other security agencies.”