Former Oil Minister Seeks Formal Date to Face EFCC.
Timipre Sylva, the former Minister of State for Petroleum and a onetime governor of Bayelsa State, has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for a formal date to appear before investigators, following the agency’s declaration of him as wanted over an alleged fourteen point eight million dollar fraud. In a letter dated twenty four November and acknowledged by the Commission two days later, Sylva said he is receiving urgent medical treatment for what he described as a life threatening condition. He requested what he called medical clearance that would enable both sides agree on a date suitable for his appearance. The correspondence was addressed to the Executive Chairman of the EFCC and conveyed through his lawyers. His protest followed the public notice issued by the Commission, which announced a warrant of arrest earlier granted by a Federal High Court in connection with funds invested by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited. The EFCC alleges that the nearly fifteen million dollars earmarked for refinery development was dishonestly converted. Sylva argued that the declaration portrayed him as a fugitive, a depiction he firmly disputes. He recalled that he had honoured an earlier invitation in December last year, was granted administrative bail on self recognition and received no further communication from investigators. According to him, no bail terms were breached and claims that he had jumped bail were inaccurate. The former minister also condemned what he described as a dramatic operation at his Abuja residence, where security personnel, domestic staff and aides were reportedly detained during an EFCC visit. He warned that such actions risk fuelling political interpretations of the case, insisting that he has been a target since the beginning of the current administration. The EFCC has not issued a fresh response to his request for a new appearance date. As matters stand, the case is edging towards a sharper confrontation, with legal procedure, political suspicion and public scrutiny now tightly intertwined.
| 2025-11-27 07:29:20