In a significant move against alleged corruption in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a warrant for the arrest of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, over allegations of fraud amounting to US $14,859,257. The warrant was issued on 6 November 2025 by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The EFCC alleges that the funds were part of an investment made by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Ltd (AIRPL) for the construction of a refinery project. According to the anti-graft agency, Sylva, alongside others, is accused of diverting the money through a conspiracy that involved dishonest conversion of the funds, a violation of the country’s anti-corruption and financial crimes laws.
In an official statement, the EFCC confirmed that the agency is now actively seeking Sylva’s arrest to bring him in for questioning and eventual prosecution. “The EFCC will continue to pursue all persons implicated in corrupt activities, regardless of their status or position in society,” the statement said.
Sylva, who previously served as Governor of Bayelsa State from 2007 to 2012 and later as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between 2019 and 2023 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, has not publicly responded to the allegations. The EFCC, however, appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information regarding Sylva’s whereabouts to report to the nearest EFCC office or police station.
Legal analysts have described the case as a litmus test for Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework, highlighting the ongoing challenges the country faces in holding senior officials accountable for the mismanagement of public funds. This latest development comes amid growing public demand for transparency in the management of Nigeria’s oil wealth, which has long been a source of both economic opportunity and political controversy.
Observers note that the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s governance, particularly in the oil and gas sector, which remains a critical part of the nation’s economy. It also sends a strong signal that the EFCC is intensifying its efforts to investigate and prosecute high-profile cases of corruption.
The EFCC has vowed to pursue the matter to its legal conclusion, reiterating that no individual, regardless of their past political or social influence, is above the law.
