The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257.

The funds were reportedly disbursed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for a refinery project in Bayelsa State.

According to a statement by EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the anti-graft agency obtained an arrest warrant on November 6 from Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos, authorizing law enforcement to apprehend Sylva for questioning. The case centers on funds allocated to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited under the Brass Energy Park initiative in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area.

The investigation was triggered by the earlier arrest of the project’s Managing Director, Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, on charges of misappropriation and money laundering. Findings revealed that during the tenure of former NCDMB Executive Secretary Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote (2016–2023), the board released $35 million for the development of a 2,000-barrel-per-day modular refinery, jetty, gas and power plants, a data center, and a tank farm. However, the EFCC noted that the project has shown minimal progress since its inception in December 2020.

Sylva, who served as Minister during the funding review period (2019–2023), has denied any wrongdoing. His media aide, Julius Bokoru, described the EFCC’s declaration as a politically motivated “smear campaign,” criticizing the agency for issuing a digital notice without prior formal invitation. “Sylva has clean hands – the project is legitimate and verifiable,” Bokoru stated, adding that the former minister is currently in the United Kingdom for medical treatment and is willing to cooperate with due process.

The development has reignited scrutiny over the NCDMB’s counterpart funding practices, with the EFCC confirming that it has questioned Wabote and is investigating at least 17 similar financing arrangements.