EFCC Summons Timipre Sylva Over $14.86m Fraud Allegation

This week, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale directed Timipre Sylva, the former Bayelsa State Governor, to report for questioning. An alleged $14.86 million fraud case forms the basis of the investigation.

The commission had declared Sylva wanted back in November 2025 while examining allegations tied to conspiracy, dishonest conversion, and financial crimes totalling $14,859,257. A 13-count federal indictment lists Sylva as a defendant.

He previously served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. Court documents characterize him as 'still at large' and connect him to claims of treason, terrorism-related offences, and money laundering.

Examination of the full allegations attached to each count remains ongoing. The timing coincided with Sylva's departure from the All Progressives Congress.

Following his split from the ruling party, the ex-governor publicly criticized its direction and expressed disappointment regarding President Bola Tinubu's leadership. Additionally, he charged that the EFCC functions as a partisan tool of the APC instead of serving impartially as a state institution.

When these assertions were put to the EFCC spokesperson, he reaffirmed the validity of the summons. This investigation adds another senior political and public figure to those the commission is actively pursuing.

Concurrent probes have uncovered troubling developments: resources from local government treasuries have reportedly been transferred into crypto wallets. Such discoveries point to a broader pattern of financial irregularities now under examination across multiple sectors and institutions.