…“The order hereby authorises the Applicant or any officer of EFCC, Police, or other law enforcement agency to arrest the Respondent and bring him before the Commission to answer for the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed”
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, November 10, 2025, declared former Minister of Petroleum Resources and ex-Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted for alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14.86 million.
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, Head of Media and Publicity at the EFCC, the sum represents part of the funds invested by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for refinery construction.
On November 6, 2025, the Commission obtained a warrant for Sylva’s arrest from the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice D.I. Dipeolu issued the order, authorising EFCC operatives, the police, or any other law enforcement agency to apprehend the former minister for questioning over the alleged offence.
“The order hereby authorises the Applicant or any officer of the Commission, Police, or other law enforcement agency to arrest the Respondent and bring him before the Commission to answer for the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed,” the court order read.
The EFCC also urged members of the public with credible information on Sylva’s whereabouts to report to any of its zonal offices across the country or the nearest police station.
In a related development, the anti-graft agency announced that the trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Adoza Bello, over an alleged N80.2 billion fraud, was on Monday adjourned to Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation.
The adjournment followed a lengthy court session before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, during which four witnesses, including compliance officers from Zenith Bank, Ecobank, Keystone Bank, and Access Bank testified.
The fourth prosecution witness, Mashelia Arhyel of Zenith Bank, told the court under cross-examination by defence counsel J.B. Daudu (SAN) that multiple cash withdrawals, each in sums of N10 million, were made from the Kogi State Government House Administration Account by two officials, Abdulsalam Hudu and Comfort Olufunke.
He further revealed that several hotels among them Idrinana Hotels, Edge Drive Hotels, JF Hotels, May Treasure Resort, Halims Hotels, Nostalgia Suites, and Hope Confluence Hotels received payments from the same account.
Other witnesses, including Jesutoni Akoni of Ecobank (PW5), Mohammed Bello Hassan of Keystone Bank (PW6), and Olomotane Egoro of Access Bank (PW7), presented and submitted various account statements and documents connecting individuals and corporate entities to the transactions under investigation.
After examining the exhibits, Justice Nwite adjourned the case to Tuesday, November 11, 2025, for continuation of the trial.
