The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and one-time Governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of public funds amounting to $14,859,257.
According to a statement released by the Commission, the alleged funds were part of allocations from the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery project.
Investigations by the EFCC reportedly revealed that the funds were misappropriated and diverted for personal and private use, contrary to the purpose for which they were disbursed.
The anti-graft agency has therefore urged members of the public with useful information regarding Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its offices across the country or report through its official communication channels.
Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum between 2019 and 2023, and Governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012, has faced previous corruption-related investigations by the EFCC, most of which were later withdrawn or struck out by the courts.
As of press time, Sylva has not publicly responded to the latest declaration.