The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has placed former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva, on its watch list over an alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14.8 million, Daily Trust learned last night.
Shortly after declaring Sylva wanted, the EFCC reportedly alerted several international law enforcement agencies to assist in tracking and arresting the former minister of state for petroleum resources.
According to multiple credible sources within the EFCC, the National Crime Agency (NCA)—the United Kingdom’s lead agency against organised crime—was among the organisations notified. Others include the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), INTERPOL, and the Metropolitan Police.
Speaking anonymously to Daily Trust, an EFCC detective expressed confidence that Sylva would soon be arrested and returned to Nigeria to face the allegations.
“You know when we declare someone wanted like that, all the law enforcement agencies across the world are placed on notice – FBI, NCA, Metropolitan Police. We’ve placed him on a watch list. So, there is no hiding place for him. We have our development partners. It is a matter of time when he will be brought back to Nigeria. They will arrest him,” the source said.
Earlier, the EFCC issued a public notice declaring Sylva wanted in connection with funds reportedly injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for a refinery project.
The notice, signed by EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, followed a warrant of arrest issued by the Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025.
In an updated statement, Oyewale confirmed that the order was granted by Justice D.I. Dipeolu.
“The commission, on November 6, 2025, secured a warrant for the arrest of the former Minister at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
“The order, granted by Justice D.I. Dipeolu, 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,’” Oyewale stated.