Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of breaching established procedures before declaring him wanted over an alleged $14.85 million fraud.
In a statement issued on Monday, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru, said the EFCC bypassed all formal channels and resorted to an abrupt social-media announcement.
According to Bokoru, the commission neither contacted Sylva nor followed due protocol before “a sudden digital proclamation designed to inflame public sentiment and manufacture yet another episode of orchestrated hostility.”
He described the development as “curious,” noting that what was once whispered as a “coup matter” had “quietly metamorphosed into a financial allegation,” suggesting an ongoing coordinated political plot against the former minister.
Bokoru alleged that “shadowy forces” opposed to Sylva’s political relevance were driving a sustained campaign of persecution. He compared Sylva’s ordeals to “the trials of Job,” saying each accusation appeared immediately after another was discredited.
Although Bokoru confirmed he had not been in direct communication with Sylva, he stated that the former minister would honour the EFCC’s invitation after completing medical checks in the United Kingdom. He insisted that Sylva had “clean hands,” maintaining that the refinery project at the centre of the probe was legitimate, transparent and fully documented.
The EFCC on Monday declared Sylva wanted, alleging conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14.85 million provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for the construction of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited. The commission also released his photograph.
A Federal High Court in Lagos had on 6 November granted the EFCC a warrant to arrest the former minister. Justice D.I. Dipeolu ordered law enforcement agencies to apprehend Sylva and bring him before the commission to answer to the allegations.
The development comes weeks after Sylva’s Abuja residence was raided by soldiers investigating an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu. While confirming the raid, Sylva denied any involvement in a coup attempt and said he had received no explanation from security operatives. He was reportedly outside the country at the time.
Akelicious earlier reported that more than 30 suspects may face trial over the failed coup attempt, while several others remain at large. It is unclear whether Sylva is among those being sought by security agencies in connection with the matter.
