Former Minister of State for Petroleum Timipre Sylva has formally asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to set a mutually convenient date for his appearance in connection with allegations of a $14.8 million fraud, citing ongoing medical treatment for a serious health condition.

In a letter dated November 24 and acknowledged by the EFCC two days later, Sylva addressed Chairman Ola Olukoyede, rejecting claims that he was evading summons. He stressed his readiness to cooperate once medically cleared, writing: “I trust that the objective of your invitation is not to unalive, but to genuinely investigate an alleged crime. Only the living can fully respond to accusations, which I firmly reject.”

Sylva recounted honoring a prior EFCC invitation in December 2024 over the same matter, after which he was granted administrative bail on self-recognition. He said there was no further communication until he was declared wanted on November 10, 2025, describing the announcement as “deeply surprising and profoundly unsettling.” He denied jumping bail and suggested that the sequence of events—including a military raid on his Abuja home and arrests of staff—could fuel perceptions of a political witch-hunt under the current administration.

The EFCC has not publicly responded to his latest letter. Earlier statements accused Sylva of involvement in a scheme tied to his ministerial tenure, prompting a warrant for his arrest issued by Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Lagos on November 6. The agency maintains that Sylva failed to appear despite invitations, though details of those summons remain unclear in public records.

This development follows reports linking Sylva to an alleged plot against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which he has dismissed as baseless. During a raid connected to that claim, his brother, domestic staff, and aides were detained, with some still in custody. His media aide, Julius Bokoru, accused unnamed politicians of orchestrating the scrutiny to neutralize perceived threats.

As a prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) figure and former governor of Bayelsa State, Sylva’s case has drawn significant attention amid broader anti-corruption drives. Critics, however, question the timing and handling of the investigation. The EFCC continues its probe, with no formal charges filed yet.