The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has urged former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, to make himself available for questioning over an alleged $14.86 million fraud.
The anti-graft agency declared Sylva wanted in connection with the investigation, asking him to report to its office to answer questions concerning the alleged financial offences.
Sylva, a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, served as Bayelsa governor from 2007 to 2012 and remains a prominent figure in Nigerian politics.
The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of the former governor, who has denied wrongdoing and previously criticised the EFCC’s handling of the matter. The investigation is expected to shed more light on the transactions at the centre of the allegation.
The commission has maintained that its investigation is aimed at establishing the facts and determining whether any offence was committed. As with all criminal allegations, Sylva remains presumed innocent unless and until a court determines otherwise.
The latest development also comes amid continued public scrutiny of the EFCC’s investigations involving former governors, ministers and other politically exposed persons. Such cases have frequently attracted significant attention, with calls for anti-corruption agencies to ensure that investigations are conducted transparently and in accordance with due process.
For the former Bayelsa governor, the immediate issue is whether he will respond to the commission’s request and appear before investigators. His response is likely to determine the next phase of the investigation as the EFCC continues its efforts to establish the facts surrounding the alleged $14.86 million fraud.
The development is not the beginning of the case, however. The EFCC’s investigation into Sylva dates back to 2025, when the commission obtained an arrest warrant for the former governor from a Lagos State High Court on November 6, 2025, over allegations involving $14.86 million linked to a refinery project. He was subsequently declared wanted by the commission in November 2025.
Almost 10 months later, on September 1, 2026, the EFCC renewed its call for Sylva to make himself available for questioning, following renewed public attention to the case.
