The political and legal troubles of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, have deepened as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not only declared him wanted but has now also placed him on the watchlists of major international law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Interpol.
According to a public notice released by the EFCC, Sylva is wanted in connection with an alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257—funds said to have been provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for the development of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
A senior EFCC official confirmed that the former minister’s details have been shared with international partners, including the FBI (United States), Interpol, the UK Metropolitan Police, and security agencies in Canada and other allied countries.
“The matter has been under investigation for years. Sylva cooperated initially but stopped appearing before investigators. Now that he’s been declared wanted, his details have been shared with our international counterparts for tracking,” the source said.
The development follows an arrest warrant issued by the Federal High Court in Lagos on November 6, 2025, mandating security operatives to arrest and bring the former minister before the EFCC to face questioning over alleged financial crimes.
The EFCC’s move comes amid growing pressure over the NCDMB’s controversial $35 million investment in a modular refinery project in the Niger Delta. The refinery, reportedly linked to Atlantic International Refinery, was expected to boost local petroleum production but has yet to materialise five years after funding was released.
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives had last month demanded a probe into the project, expressing concern over what they called “the mysterious disappearance of millions in public funds without a functional refinery to show for it.”