The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has called on former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, to appear before the agency for questioning over an alleged $14.86 million fraud case.
The EFCC declared Sylva wanted in November 2025 in connection with allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257.
According to The PUNCH, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale made the latest appeal on Monday while responding to claims by Sylva that the anti-graft agency had become more aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, than functioning as an independent state institution.
Oyewale said the former governor, having been declared wanted, should make himself available to the commission.
The development followed Sylva’s resignation from the APC on Monday. In his resignation letter, the former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources said he had copied the EFCC because of what he described as the commission’s increasingly political conduct.
Sylva accused the APC leadership of abandoning the principles upon which the party was founded and criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu, which he said had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
In the resignation letter dated August 31, 2026, and addressed to the APC chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Sylva said his decision followed consultations with family members, associates, colleagues and supporters.
He described the APC as a “floundering ship” and said he could no longer remain in a party whose leaders, in his assessment, had adopted the view that anything was acceptable in politics.
Sylva, a founding member of the APC, said the party’s original ideals had been significantly undermined. He also expressed the belief that Nigerians would use the next general election to change the country’s political direction.
Alleged plot against Tinubu
Sylva’s resignation comes months after he was also linked to an alleged plot against the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
He is listed as a defendant and described as “still at large” in a 13-count charge filed before a Federal High Court. The case involves allegations including treason, terrorism-related offences, conspiracy and money laundering.
Reports indicate that Sylva left Nigeria after details of the investigation became public. Investigators have also reportedly alleged that he was a major financier of the suspected plot and contributed about N785 million through Purple Waves Limited, an Abuja-based company.
More than N5 billion was reportedly gathered for the alleged operation, with investigators tracing approximately N785 million through Purple Waves and a bureau de change operator before the funds were allegedly distributed.
Investigators also reportedly linked payments made into Purple Waves to proceeds from contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission and loans obtained by the company.
Sylva has denied any involvement in the alleged plot, and the allegations have not resulted in a conviction.
In July 2026, the Department of State Services, DSS, arraigned five of Sylva’s associates over allegations that they concealed his whereabouts after he was declared wanted. The defendants pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.
Meanwhile, in May 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim forfeiture order covering nine properties reportedly linked to Sylva, following an application by the EFCC.
Timipre Sylva served as Bayelsa State governor from 2007 to 2012, although his tenure was affected by court rulings. He later served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Source: The PUNCH
