The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a former Minister of Petroleum Resources and former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of public funds.

According to a statement issued by the anti-graft agency, Sylva is wanted in connection with the alleged diversion of $14,859,257 (Fourteen Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty-Seven United States Dollars). The funds were reportedly part of an investment made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.

The EFCC said it secured a warrant for Sylva’s arrest on November 6, 2025, from the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos. The warrant, granted by Justice D.I. Dipeolu, authorised law enforcement officers to apprehend the former minister and bring him before the Commission to answer to the alleged criminal offences.

The court order stated: “An order is 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 Commission urged members of the public with useful information about Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices across the country, the nearest police station, or other security agencies.