Former Bayelsa State Governor and ex-Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, may be arraigned in absentia as Nigerian security agencies intensify efforts to bring him to face charges bordering on fraud and conspiracy.
Sylva was declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged diversion of about $14.86 million linked to funds provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for the Atlantic International Refinery project.
A senior EFCC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the commission was determined to prosecute the case regardless of Sylva’s continued absence from the country.
“Once investigations are concluded and charges are filed, the court has the power to proceed, even if the suspect refuses to present himself,” the official said. “He cannot evade justice simply by staying away.”
The official disclosed that the EFCC is working closely with the Department of State Services (DSS) and international partners, including Interpol, to track Sylva’s whereabouts and ensure his arrest.
“Interpol has been notified, and efforts are ongoing to locate him wherever he is. This case has gone beyond local enforcement,” the source added.
Sylva’s Abuja residence was previously searched by security operatives following the issuance of an arrest warrant, but his aides claimed he had travelled abroad for medical reasons. Despite assurances from his camp that he would cooperate with investigators, he has yet to return to Nigeria months after being declared wanted.
Legal experts say arraignment in absentia remains a viable option under Nigerian law, particularly in cases where suspects deliberately evade arrest, as anti-graft agencies push to prevent high-profile corruption cases from stalling indefinitely.
