๐๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐.๐๐ฆ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฉ๐จ๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ฅ โ ๐๐ ๐๐
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has insisted that the decision to declare former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, wanted over alleged $14.8m fraud has no political undertones. The commission said Sylva violated his administrative bail and ignored scheduled engagements with investigators.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, told our correspondent on Friday that Sylva had long been under investigation and was only declared wanted after he allegedly jumped bail.
He dismissed claims that the action was driven by political considerations, describing such suggestions as baseless.
The anti-graft agency had on Monday declared the former Bayelsa governor wanted for alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 belonging to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board for the suspended Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical project.
The development came barely 27 days after the House of Representatives launched a probe into the alleged mismanagement of a $35m investment by the NCDMB in a modular refinery project that failed to take off in the Niger Delta.
The House motion, moved by Billy Osawaru, questioned why Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited failed to materialise despite heavy federal investment.
Sylva also recently made headlines after soldiers raided his Abuja residence on October 25 over alleged links to an attempted coup. His younger brother, Paga, and his driver were reportedly arrested.
However, Sylvaโs Media and Public Affairs aide, Julius Bokoru, countered the EFCC, saying the former minister received no formal invitation before being declared wanted.
He alleged that the commission issued a โdigital proclamationโ aimed at inciting public sentiment, adding that accusations against Sylva had shifted over time.
Bokoru noted that Sylva, currently in the United Kingdom for medical examination, intends to honour the EFCC invitation once cleared by his doctors.
โI have not been in direct contact with Chief Sylva, but available briefings confirm he will honour the EFCC once he concludes his medical check-up,โ he said.
Responding to claims of improper procedure, Oyewale maintained that Sylva was duly invited, placed on administrative bail, and later violated the conditions.
โWe followed due process. If we didnโt contact him, how was he placed on administrative bail? There is no political colouration except in the imagination of our detractors,โ he said.
