The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday declared former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, wanted over an alleged involvement in the dishonest conversion of $14,859,257 linked to a refinery project in Bayelsa State.
According to reports, the embezzled funds were part of the money injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for the construction of a modular refinery in the state.
However, the investigation is also connected to alleged financial irregularities involving the former Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote. The EFCC had also arrested the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, Mr. Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, for alleged diversion of funds and money laundering.
Sylva, who served as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources between 2019 and 2023, has denied the allegations. He described them as being politically motivated and aimed at tarnishing his reputation whilst his media aide, Julius Bokoru, in a statement, faulted the EFCC’s action, saying it lacked due process and was done unceremoniously without communications made to Sylva.
Bokoru further added that “Chief Timipre Sylva has clean hands and that he hasn’t seen nor diverted a single dollar, nor has he betrayed the trust reposed in him by the Nigerian people.”
He urged Sylva’s supporters to remain calm, expressing confidence that the truth will suffice at the end.
Wow, can you believe the audacity of these corrupt officials? $14.8 million diverted? Absolute madness. Justice must prevail!
I wonder if Sylva will ever face consequences for this. Corruption seems to run deep in politics. Wheres the justice?
Is it just me or does it seem like corruption in Nigeria never ends? When will justice prevail?
Do you think the EFCC is doing enough to tackle corruption in Nigeria or is there still more to be done?