The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has clarified that its decision to declare former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged $14.8m fraud has no political undertone.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, told journalists on Friday that Sylva was declared wanted only after violating the terms of his administrative bail.
He explained that the former Bayelsa State governor had long been under investigation and had failed to honour agreed conditions.
He rejected suggestions that the action taken by the commission was politically driven.
EFCC on Monday announced that Sylva was wanted for alleged conspiracy and the dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 belonging to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board. The funds were earmarked for the suspended Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical project.
This development followed 27 days after the House of Representatives moved to investigate the alleged mismanagement of a $35m investment by the NCDMB in a modular refinery that never materialised in the Niger Delta. The motion, raised by lawmaker Billy Osawaru, questioned the disappearance of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited despite substantial federal funding.
Sylva also came under the spotlight recently after soldiers raided his Abuja residence on October 25 over alleged links to an attempted coup. His younger brother, Paga, who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, and his driver were arrested during the raid.
However, Sylva’s Media and Public Affairs aide, Julius Bokoru, disputed EFCC’s claims, insisting that the former minister received no formal notice before being declared wanted.
According to him, “No formal communication was extended to him, no established protocol was observed — only a sudden digital proclamation designed, it would seem, to inflame public sentiment and manufacture yet another episode of orchestrated hostility.”
Bokoru further alleged political interference, arguing that the accusations against Sylva had shifted multiple times. He said the former minister—currently in the United Kingdom for a medical check-up—intends to honour the EFCC’s invitation once medically cleared. He added, “For clarity, I have not been in direct communication with Chief Sylva. However, from available information and prior official briefings, it is important to restate that Chief Sylva will, in line with his respect for lawful institutions and due process, honour the invitation of the EFCC once he concludes his ongoing medical check-up in the United Kingdom.”
Responding to claims that Sylva was not properly invited, the EFCC spokesperson reiterated that the commission followed all necessary procedures. He said Sylva had been placed on administrative bail but failed to comply with its terms.
“We have invited him before; he came and was placed on administrative bail. But after he failed to keep a date with his bail conditions, he had to be declared wanted.
“We followed due process in doing that. It is not true that we did not contact him. It is not true that we did not follow procedure. If we did not follow procedure, how could we have put him on administrative bail? There is no political colouration except in the imagination of our detractors.”