Chief Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and ex-Governor of Bayelsa State, is currently in the United Kingdom undergoing medical treatment, his media aide confirmed, following the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declaring him wanted over alleged fraud.

 

In a statement , Julius Bokoru, Sylva’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, said the former minister will comply with the EFCC invitation once his medical check-up is complete. Bokoru criticized the anti-graft agency for issuing a “digital proclamation” without adhering to formal communication protocols, describing the move as part of a “coordinated and calculated political onslaught” against Sylva.

 

“Chief Timipre Sylva has clean hands. He has not diverted a single dollar, nor has he betrayed the trust reposed in him by the Nigerian people. The refinery project in question is a legitimate, transparent, and verifiable undertaking—subject to due process and traceable documentation,” Bokoru stated.

 

The clarification comes after EFCC’s announcement regarding Sylva’s alleged involvement in conspiracy and fraudulent conversion of $14,859,257, funds provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for investment in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.

 

Senior EFCC officials confirmed that Sylva has now been placed on the watchlists of international security agencies, including the FBI, Interpol, UK Metropolitan Police, and Canadian security authorities, amid an investigation that has been ongoing for several years.

 

A source within EFCC noted:

 

“The case has been on for a long time. The former minister had been visiting our office before he stopped coming. Now that he has been declared wanted, he’s also on the watchlists of the FBI, Interpol, and other global security agencies.”

 

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale revealed that the commission obtained an arrest warrant from the Federal High Court on November 6, 2025. Justice D. I. Dipeolu granted the order, directing law enforcement agencies to arrest Sylva and bring him before the commission to face charges linked to the alleged offense.

 

Bokoru described the EFCC’s move as a digital campaign of hostility and urged the public to remain calm, asserting that the former minister’s reputation and integrity remain intact.