Former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva will respond to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) invitation after completing a medical check-up in the United Kingdom, his aide Julius Bokoru has confirmed.
The EFCC had on Monday declared Sylva wanted over an alleged conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14,859,257. The funds were reportedly part of monies allocated by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for refinery construction.
Bokoru accused the anti-graft agency of issuing the “sudden digital proclamation” without formally contacting Sylva. “No formal communication was extended to him, no established protocol observed—only a sudden digital proclamation designed to inflame public sentiment,” he said.
He assured that Sylva, in line with his respect for due process, would comply with the EFCC’s request after his ongoing medical check-up in the UK.
The EFCC obtained a warrant for Sylva’s arrest from the Federal High Court in Lagos on November 6, following a military raid on his residence in October. The raid was reportedly linked to intelligence suggesting Sylva’s involvement in meetings with military officers accused of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Bokoru described the allegations as a “coordinated and calculated political onslaught,” claiming the former governor is being targeted due to his enduring political influence.
Efforts to reach Sylva’s spokesman supporting the convention of the EFCC proceedings were unsuccessful at press time.
