Fraud Allegation: Sylva Chides EFCC, Asks For Date To Appear Before Commission

By Adesina Soyooye

“I have been a target of this administration since its inception” – Sylva

A former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has chided the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for invading his residence. During the invasion, Sylva said his drivers, domestic staff and others who live in his house, were arrested, and are still in detention.

Earlier, Sylva had, also, said that during the invasion, his property was destroyed.

Recall that the EFCC declared  Sylva, a former Governor of Bayelsa State wanted over an alleged fraud to the tune of over $14.8M in connection with a proposed refinery.

Before Sylva was declared wanted, his name had  been linked to a purported coup plot to sack President Bola Tinubu from office, a plot which the Military strongly dismissed. Yet, nobody has quite explained why Sylva’s home was invaded by the Military and arrests made.

But, now, reacting officially to the EFCC’s declaration of him as wanted, Sylva, chided the Commission and asked them to say why he was so declared.

He said the EFCC had invited him in 2024, an invitation he honoured, and was granted bail in self recognition.  He said since then, there has been no other invitation to him by the EFCC and wondered why he was declared wanted.

In a letter to the EFCC, he asked the Commission to give him a date to appear before it, but noted that he was in the United Kingdom on medicals, over a life-threatening condition, and promised to appear, based on the advice of his medical team.

In the  November 24 dated letter,  acknowledged by the EFCC on November 26, Sylva wrote:

“I most humbly request that a mutually agreed date be set—subject to medical clearance—to enable me appear physically. I trust the objective of your invitation is not to harm me but to investigate an alleged crime, which I firmly deny.

“I have never declined or evaded any lawful invitation. The claim that I jumped bail is incorrect. No such bail condition existed or was violated by me.

“The recent actions may be misinterpreted as a political witch-hunt by many, especially considering that I appear to have been a target since the beginning of this administration”.