The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) 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 (NCDMB) for investment in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
Senior EFCC officials confirmed to Punch that the former minister has been placed on the watchlists of global security agencies, including the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Interpol, the United Kingdom Metropolitan Police, and security authorities in Canada and other countries.
A credible EFCC source familiar with the matter said the case had been ongoing for years.
“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 source said.
According to Oyewale, the commission secured a Federal High Court arrest warrant on November 6, 2025.
Justice D. I. Dipeolu granted the order, directing security agencies to arrest Sylva and bring him before the EFCC to answer to the alleged criminal offences.
