EFCC Challenges Ex-Gov Sylva to Appear for Questioning Over $14.86m Case
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has asked former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, to make himself available for questioning over an alleged $14.86 million fraud case. EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale made the call on Monday while responding to Sylva’s accusation that the commission had increasingly operated as an organ of the All Progressives Congress rather than as a state institution. Oyewale said Sylva, who was declared wanted by the commission, should present himself for questioning. The former governor, who announced his resignation from the APC on Monday, had copied the EFCC executive chairman in his resignation letter, saying he feared his decision to leave the ruling party could lead to what he described as a renewed “witch-hunt” against him and his associates. Sylva accused the APC of abandoning its founding principles and criticised the Tinubu administration for disappointing Nigerians, saying he could no longer remain in a party whose leaders, in his view, had embraced the belief that “all is fair in politics.” He said his resignation followed consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and sympathisers and expressed confidence that Nigerians would use the next election to change the country’s political direction. The resignation letter, dated August 31, 2026, was addressed to the APC chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and copied to the party’s national chairman and Bayelsa chairman, as well as the EFCC chairman.
The EFCC declared Sylva wanted in November 2025 over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257. His name has also been linked to an alleged plot against the administration of President Bola Tinubu, with the former governor listed as a defendant and described as “still at large” in a 13-count federal charge involving allegations of treason, terrorism-related offences, conspiracy and money laundering. Reports have alleged that investigators identified Sylva as a principal financier of the alleged plot and traced about N785 million through Purple Waves Limited, an Abuja-based company, out of more than N5 billion reportedly pooled for the operation. Investigators also reportedly linked funds paid into the company to proceeds from Niger Delta Development Commission contracts and loans obtained by the firm. Sylva has denied involvement in the alleged plot, while the allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings and he has not been convicted. In July 2026, five of his associates were arraigned by the Department of State Services over allegations that they concealed his whereabouts; they pleaded not guilty and were granted bail. Earlier, in May 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim forfeiture order covering nine properties linked to Sylva following an EFCC application. Sylva served as Bayelsa State governor from 2007 to 2012 before later becoming Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
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