Timipre Sylva has yet to return to Nigeria several months after his Abuja residence was raided by operatives of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) in connection with investigations into an alleged coup plot against President Bola Tinubu.
Security and anti-graft agencies say the former Minister of Petroleum Resources is now being trailed beyond Nigeria’s borders, following his declaration as wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged financial crimes amounting to $14,859,257.
When silence from Abuja became a security question
The raid on Sylva’s residence on October 25, 2025, followed the arrest and detention of 16 military officers accused of sponsoring a plot to overthrow the government. Although Sylva was out of the country at the time, his younger brother, Paga, who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, alongside his driver, were arrested during the operation.
At the time, the Defence Headquarters publicly denied the existence of a coup attempt, dismissing reports linking the detained officers to any plot as misinformation designed to cause public anxiety.
What authorities first denied — then confirmed
That position shifted weeks later. Presenting the outcome of investigations, the military confirmed that a plot to topple the administration had indeed been uncovered. The new Director of Defence Information said several officers had cases to answer for actions “inconsistent with the ethics and professional standards of the Armed Forces.”
The confirmation brought renewed focus to the intelligence trail surrounding the former governor and intensified scrutiny of his continued absence from the country.
How a fraud case widened the net
Beyond the coup-related investigation, Sylva was declared wanted by the EFCC on November 10, 2025, over allegations of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of funds injected by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board into Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
Security sources say this financial probe has significantly expanded the scope of international cooperation against him.
Why the chase has gone global
Officials of the Department of State Services and the EFCC disclosed that the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has been formally alerted to assist in tracking the former governor.
A senior security operative familiar with the matter said once a suspect of such status is declared wanted, “all global partners are placed on notice,” warning that evasion is rarely permanent.
What the law allows if he stays away
EFCC sources confirmed that while efforts are ongoing to secure Sylva’s arrest, the option of arraignment in absentia remains legally available under Nigerian law.
Investigators insist the former governor is expected to submit himself for questioning if he believes he has no case to answer.
Why this case reaches beyond one man
Allegations linking a former senior government official to both national security investigations and major financial crimes place unusual strain on Nigeria’s governance and accountability institutions. The matter sits at the intersection of political power, military discipline, and international law enforcement cooperation.
What this moment quietly changes
Whether or not Sylva returns voluntarily, the convergence of EFCC action, military findings, and Interpol involvement signals a harder posture toward high-profile suspects. The case may test how far Nigerian institutions are willing — and able — to pursue accountability when political history and national security collide
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