The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a former Minister of Petroleum Resources and former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, wanted over the alleged laundering of $14,859,257.

“Sylva is wanted in connection with an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 (fourteen million, eight hundred and fifty-nine thousand, two hundred and fifty-seven United States dollars), 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,” a statement by the anti-graft agency said on Monday.

The EFCC said it secured a warrant for the arrest of Mr Sylva at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court on November 6, 2025.

According to the commission, the order, granted by Justice D.I. Dipeolu, stated, “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 EFCC urged citizens and residents with useful information on Mr Sylva’s whereabouts to contact any of the agency’s zonal directorates across the country or the nearest police station and other security agencies.

Meanwhile, recent reports have linked Mr Sylva to an alleged foiled coup attempt to oust President Bola Tinubu and other senior government officials in Nigeria.