The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has called on former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, to appear before the agency for questioning following his declaration as wanted over an alleged $14.86 million fraud case.
The EFCC made the demand on Monday through its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, while responding to allegations by Sylva that the commission had become politically aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Oyewale said the former governor should report to the commission instead of remaining outside its reach.
“He has been declared wanted; he should make himself available to the commission,” Oyewale said.
The development came on the same day Sylva announced his resignation from the APC, citing what he described as the abandonment of the principles upon which the party was established.
In his resignation letter, dated August 31, 2026, and addressed to the APC chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Sylva said he had reached the decision after consultations with his family, associates, colleagues and supporters.
The former governor, who also copied the national chairman of the APC, the EFCC chairman and the APC chairman in Bayelsa State, accused the party of losing its founding ideals.
“As a founding member of the APC, and one who joined other well-meaning Nigerians in building the Party with sweat and money, it is deeply saddening to witness how the ideals we espoused have been so thoroughly and unrecognisably thwarted,” he said.
Sylva further criticised what he described as a political culture in which anything is considered acceptable in the pursuit of political interests.
“Moreover, I cannot, in all good conscience, continue to belong to a Party whose leaders believe that ‘all is fair in politics;’ and have consistently demonstrated that belief in practice,” he stated.
He also took aim at the administration of President Bola Tinubu, saying the Federal Government had failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
“The present Government, formed under the banner of the APC we once loved, has disappointed the vast majority of Nigerians. And I can see neither a credible attempt nor any possibility of a revamp,” Sylva wrote.
Explaining his decision to copy the EFCC in his resignation letter, the former minister accused the anti-graft agency of increasingly acting like a political organisation.
“I am deliberately putting the EFCC in copy of this letter because, of late, it has conducted itself more as an organ of the APC than as an institution of State,” he said.
Sylva also acknowledged that his resignation could expose him and his associates to further scrutiny, but said he was prepared to accept the consequences.
“I am fully aware that this action of mine may invite a redoubled witch-hunt against me and my associates, but that is a risk I am willing to take,” he added.
Sylva was declared wanted by the EFCC in November 2025 over allegations involving $14,859,257. The commission had accused him of conspiracy and dishonest conversion in connection with funds allegedly provided for the development of the Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
The commission had said a Federal High Court in Lagos issued a warrant for his arrest on November 6, 2025.
Sylva has consistently rejected the allegations, maintaining that the refinery project was legitimate and that there was no evidence that he diverted the funds. Through his media aide, Julius Bokoru, he had described the EFCC’s action as politically motivated and part of an attempt to damage his reputation.
Sylva has also been named in a separate Federal Government case arising from an alleged plot against the administration of President Tinubu.
He is listed as a defendant and described as “still at large” in a 13-count charge involving allegations of treason, terrorism-related offences, conspiracy and money laundering.
The government has alleged that Sylva was involved in financing the purported operation and that about N785 million was traced through Purple Waves Limited, an Abuja-based company allegedly connected to him.
Investigators reportedly alleged that more than N5 billion was pooled for the operation, with part of the funds traced through Purple Waves and a bureau de change operator before being distributed.
The investigation also reportedly linked money paid into Purple Waves to proceeds from contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission and loans obtained by the company.
Sylva has denied any involvement in the alleged plot, and the allegations remain before the courts.
The controversy intensified after security operatives reportedly raided his Abuja residence in October 2025 while investigating the alleged plot. Sylva was not present during the operation, while his media aide denied any connection between the former governor and the alleged attempt to overthrow the government.
In January 2026, the Defence Headquarters confirmed that investigations had established the involvement of some military personnel in a plot to overthrow Tinubu. The Federal Government subsequently filed the 13-count charge against seven defendants, including Sylva.
The charges included treason, terrorism-related offences, alleged terrorism financing and failure to disclose information concerning an alleged treasonable act. The government accused the defendants of conspiring to “levy war against the state to overawe” the President.
In July 2026, five associates of Sylva were arraigned by the Department of State Services over allegations that they concealed his whereabouts after he was declared wanted in connection with the alleged plot. 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 allegedly linked to Sylva following an application by the EFCC.
Sylva served as Bayelsa State governor between 2007 and 2012 before later becoming Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
