The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has renewed its demand for former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva to appear before the agency over an alleged $14.86 million fraud case.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed the development on Monday, saying Sylva had been declared wanted and should report to the commission. “He has been declared wanted; he should make himself available to the commission,” Oyewale said.
The latest summons comes shortly after Sylva accused the anti-graft agency of acting more like an arm of the All Progressives Congress (APC) than an independent institution of the Nigerian state.
The EFCC had previously declared Sylva wanted in November 2025 over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257. The former governor has denied wrongdoing and has repeatedly raised concerns about the handling of the case.
Sylva, who also served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has separately been linked by investigators to an alleged plot against President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He is listed as a defendant in a 13-count federal charge involving allegations including treason, terrorism-related offences, conspiracy and money laundering.
Court filings reportedly describe Sylva as still at large in connection with the case. He was also reported to have left Nigeria after the alleged plot became public and later put plans to return on hold after learning that security operatives had raided his Abuja residence and arrested some of his associates.
Investigators have reportedly alleged that Sylva was a principal financier of the alleged plot. They further claimed that about N785 million was channelled through Purple Waves Limited, an Abuja-based company, to support the alleged scheme.
The renewed EFCC summons adds another layer to Sylva’s growing legal troubles, with the former governor now facing allegations tied to both financial crimes and the separate investigation into the alleged plot against the Federal Government.
