The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva wanted.
According to the commission, Sylva, who was also and governor of Bayelsa State, is wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 , being part of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a refinery.
Last Thursday, EFCC secured a warrant for his arrest at a Federal High Court, Lagos.
As the commission stated on its X handle, the order was granted by Justice Deinde Dipeolu, stated that “an order is made issuing a warrant to the applicant or any officer of the commission, Police or any law enforcement officer for the arrest of the respondent for the purpose of bringing him before the commission to answer to the criminal offence he is alleged to have committed”.
The commission urged anyone with useful information on Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of its zonal directorates across the country or the nearest police station and other security agencies.
Last month, Sylva denied widespread reports of his alleged involvement in a coup plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
About 20 military officers were reportedly arrested and detained over the alleged plot.
About the same time, the security chiefs were replaced with the then Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher being replaced by General Olufemi Oluyede, who was the Chief of Army Staff.
Chief of Army Staff is Lt. General Waidi Shaibu replaced Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff, while Air Marshal Sunday Aneke succeeded Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff and Vice Admiral Idris Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff in place of Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla
The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. General Emmanuel Undiendeye retained his position.
