Why EFCC declare former Bayelsa State Govnor Timipre Silva wanted

Di Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to di former govnor of Bayelsa state, south-south Nigeria don react afta di Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declare di former govnor wanted.

Julius Bokoru for statement complain say di anti-corruption agency no send any formal communication to di former govnor bifor dem publicly declare am wanted.

Na on Monday, 10 November, EFCC bin declare Oga Sylva wey be former govnor of Bayelsa state and former Minister of State Petroleum Resources wanted for inside one circular dem release on dia official social media handles.

Dem say di reason na say e allgedly divert one money wey reach up $14 million US dollar (twenty-one billion naira).

Im tok-tok pesin however, clear say Oga Sylva no dey di kontri at di moment, e dey UK for im medical check-up and go honour di invitation of di EFCC wen e return.

"For clarity, I no dey in direct communication wit Chief Sylva. However, from available information and from prior official briefings, e dey important to restate say Chief Sylva go, in line wit im respect for lawful institutions and due process, honour di invitation of di EFCC once e conclude im ongoing medical check-up for di United Kingdom," Oga Borku tok.

E add say Oga Sylva na target of a coordinated and calculated political onslaught, as e describe wetin e dey go through wit wetin Job go through for Bible.

On Monday, 10 November, Nigeria anti corruption agency bin declare former Bayelsa State govnor Timipre Sylva wanted.

According to di EFCC anybodi wey get 'useful' information about Timipre Silva make e sharply report am for any of dia offices.

Timipre Sylva don serve as Nigeria minister of state for petroleum resources bifor, wen late president Muhammadu Buhari bin appoint am for 2019.

EFCC for dia statement wey dem post wit Timipre Sylva picture say, dem do di notice to find former govnor sake of di warrant of di Lagos State High Court, since 6 November, 2025.

Why EFCC declare Timipre Sylva wanted

Di anti-graft agency tok why dem declare di former Nigeria petroleum minister wanted.

Dem say e allegedly divert one money wey reach up $14 million US dollar (twenty-one billion naira).

"Di public dey hereby notified say TIMIPRE SYLVA, a former Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, and former Governor of Bayelsa State, dey wanted by di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257."

EFCC say di money wey di 61-year-old former govnor from Brass local govment area of Bayelsa State bin get case wit na "part of funds di Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NDMB) put into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for di construction of a refinery."

According to Dele Oyewale wey be EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, dem get warrant of arrest for Sylva.

Di anti-corruption quote Justice D.I. Dipeolu wey grant di order wia e tok say "dem make an order to issue warrant for di arrest of di respondent for di purpose to bring am bifor di Commission to ansa to di criminal offence wey dem alleged say e dey commit."

Meanwhile, For October 2025, dis former Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva bin deny any involvement for any alleged coup plot for Nigeria.

Dis dey for statement wey im Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru bin sign about reports say authorities raid im house.

Who be Timipre Sylva

Timipre Marlin Sylva na Nigerian politician and e don be former Minister of State for Petroleum bifor.

E be former govnor of Bayelsa State and also former member of di Rivers State House of Assembly.

Dem born am for 7 July, 1964, for Brass Bayelsa State.

Sylva start im political career for 1992 wen e represent Brass Constituency for di Rivers State House of Assembly for di old Rivers State.

At di time, im bin be di youngest of all di members for di house of Assembly.

Im political career kontinu wen e become Special Assistant to di Minister of State for Petroleum in 2004 wen Edmund Daukoru bin be di minister.

E later resign to join di PDP gubernatorial primaries in 2006 for Bayelsa State wia e come second behind Goodluck Jonathan.

Afta di PDP presidential primaries election wey Jonathan come dey appointed as a running mate to Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, di gubernatorial candidacy for PDP become vacant, and Sylva come dey elevated to occupy di position of PDP gubernatorial candidate.

Sylva win di 2007 Bayelsa State gubernatorial election and succeed Goodluck Jonathan wey get di position of Vice President.

Sylva opponent for di 2007 election, Ebitimi Amgbare of Action Congress, legally challenge im victory. Although di Bayelsa State Election Petitions Tribunal uphold Sylva election, Amgbare carry di mata to di Appeal Court for Port Harcourt wey overturn di Tribunal decision and nullify Sylva election on 15 April 2008.

Di Appeal Court five judges for dia unanimous decision give order for di Speaker Werinipre Seibarugo to dey sworn in to replace Sylva as acting govnor, and order a new election to hold within three months.

A new election hold on 24 May 2008, and Sylva, again running as di PDP candidate, come dey elected with 588,204 out of about 598,000 votes.

Dem swear am in again on 27 May, 2008 but on 27 January 2012, im tenure come dey terminated by di Supreme Court with an acting govnor appointed to oversee di state until di election of February 2012.

For August 2019, President Buhari appoint Timpre Sylva as di Nigerian Cabinet Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.