$14.8m probe: EFCC puts Sylva on FBI, Interpol watchlist
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.
In a public notice, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said the funds were provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board for Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
Senior EFCC officials added that Sylva had been placed on the watchlists of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, Interpol, the United Kingdom Metropolitan Police, and security agencies in Canada and other countries.
According to his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Julius Bokoru, Sylva is currently away in the United Kingdom.
A source in the EFCC familiar with the case said, “The case has been on for a long time. The former minister was visiting our office until he later stopped. So, now that we have declared him wanted, he has also been placed on the watchlists of the US FBI, Interpol, and other security agencies.”
The EFCC spokesman, Oyewale, said the commission on November 6, 2025, obtained a Federal High Court arrest warrant in Lagos.
Justice D.I. Dipeolu granted the order, directing law enforcement to arrest Sylva and bring him before the commission to answer to the alleged criminal offence.
This development comes 27 days after the House of Representatives resolved to probe the alleged mismanagement of a $35m investment by the NCDMB in a modular refinery project that never materialised in the Niger Delta.
The motion, moved by House member, Billy Osawaru, raised concerns over the non-existence of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited despite significant federal investment five years ago.
Stakeholders had petitioned the EFCC in May 2024 to investigate NCDMB’s multi-million-dollar investments, including the Atlantic project, but the agency reportedly remained silent.
Following this, the House directed its Committees on Midstream, Downstream, and Legislative Compliance to investigate the $35m investment and report findings within four weeks.
Sylva, a former Bayelsa State governor and All Progressives Congress chieftain, recently made headlines after his Abuja residence was raided by the military on October 25 over alleged involvement in a coup attempt.
Reacting to the EFCC notice, declaring Sylva wanted, his media aide, Bokoru, said the commission did not notify the former minister through formal channels, alleging that the development was politically motivated.
