The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Governor of Bayelsa State and former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, wanted.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Mr. Dele Oyewale, on Monday, the commission alleged that Mr. Sylva is wanted for conspiracy and the dishonest conversion of $14,859,257. According to the EFCC, the sum constituted part of the funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for a refinery construction project.

According to the EFCC, a warrant for Mr. Sylva’s arrest was issued by Justice D. I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on 6 November 2025.

The order read in part: “An order is hereby 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 public has been enjoined to report any information on Mr. Sylva’s whereabouts to any EFCC zonal directorate, police station, or other security agency. As of the time of filing this report, the former governor had not issued an official statement on the matter.