By Seun Ibiyemi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged former Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, to make himself available for questioning over an alleged $14.86 million fraud.
The EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, made the call on Monday while responding to allegations by Sylva that the anti-graft agency had become more of an organ of the All Progressives Congress (APC) than an institution of the Nigerian state.
“He has been declared wanted; he should make himself available to the commission,” Oyewale said.
Sylva, who announced his resignation from the APC on Monday, had accused the ruling party of abandoning its founding ideals and criticised the administration of President Bola Tinubu for failing to meet the expectations of Nigerians.
In his resignation letter, addressed to the APC chairman of Ward 4 in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Sylva said he deliberately copied the EFCC because of concerns that his decision to quit the party could trigger further investigations against him and his associates.
“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 stated.
The former governor said he was aware that his resignation could lead to what he described as a “redoubled witch-hunt” against him but maintained that it was a risk he was willing to take.
Sylva also accused the APC-led Federal Government of disappointing Nigerians, saying he could no longer remain in a party whose leaders, in his assessment, had abandoned basic standards of decency and morality.
He expressed confidence that Nigerians would use the 2027 general election to change the political direction of the country.
The EFCC declared Sylva wanted in November 2025 over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion involving $14,859,257.
The former governor has also been 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 arising from an alleged plot against the Tinubu administration.
Sylva has denied involvement in the alleged plot, while the allegations remain subject to judicial proceedings.
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Investigators have also reportedly linked Sylva to an alleged N785 million financing trail connected to the purported plot. He has denied the allegations.
In May 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja granted an interim forfeiture order covering nine properties linked to Sylva following an application by the EFCC.
His resignation from the APC comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Sylva served as Bayelsa State governor from 2007 to 2012 and later served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources under former President Muhammadu Buhari.
