Former Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, has written to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission asking the agency to provide him with a date to honour its invitation.
The former Bayelsa State Governor, in a letter personally signed and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, condemned the commission’s decision to declare him wanted over an alleged $14.8million fraud.
In the letter dated 24 November and acknowledged by the EFCC on 26 November, Sylva explained that he was currently receiving urgent medical treatment for a life-threatening condition.
He said he was in ongoing consultation with his doctors to determine whether he could suspend his treatment to present himself to the EFCC for questioning.
He wrote: “In view of the foregoing, I most humbly request that a mutually agreed date be set, subject to medical clearance, to enable me to appear physically and formally.
“I trust that the objective of your invitation is not to unalive, but to genuinely investigate an alleged crime, in which case my request will be in order. For only the living may appropriately, fully and responsibly respond to any allegation, which I firmly and respectfully deny.”
Sylva said that the events of recent weeks had placed his family, friends, supporters, associates and compatriots under severe and confusing pressure.
He stated: “What began with an unverified accusation linking me to an alleged plot to undermine a constitutional authority of the President and Commander-in-Chief, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, escalated into a dramatic military operation at my private residence, during which several individuals were apprehended (drivers, security and domestic staff) and remain in detention.”
He added that while dealing with the emotional and psychological weight of those events, he was publicly declared wanted by the EFCC on Monday, 10 November 2025, in connection with an alleged $24.8million fraud.
He emphasised that he had earlier been invited by the EFCC in December 2024 over the same allegation. After giving the necessary explanations, he was granted administrative bail on self-recognition and told he would be contacted if further clarification was needed. According to him, he received no further communication from the commission.
Sylva said he was shocked and unsettled to discover, via a public announcement, that he had been declared wanted despite his well-known willingness to cooperate with law enforcement.
He wrote: “I am and have always been a law-abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I have never declined or evaded the invitation of any competent law enforcement institution.”
He also addressed reports that he had breached bail conditions.
He stated: “Furthermore, on 14 November 2025, it was publicly stated that I had jumped bail. For the sake of clarity, propriety and historical records, I must respectfully state that no such incident occurred not was any such bail condition in existence or ever violated by me.”
He warned that the unfolding events were capable of creating wrong impressions among the public.
He added, “As these developments continue to unfold, it is difficult to dismiss the impression that matters may be proceeding in a manner capable of causing public misinterpretation. For example, these frenzied and almost desperate actions may be viewed as a political witch-hunt by many. Also, considering that I have appeared to be a target since the beginning of this administration.”
