Sylva to honour EFCC invitation after medical check-up in UK – Aide

By Kunle Sanni –

Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, will honour the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) once he concludes his ongoing medical check-up in the United Kingdom, his media aide has said.

The clarification followed the EFCC’s announcement on Monday that it had declared Sylva wanted. The anti-graft agency made the declaration through its social media platforms, prompting varied reactions across political and public circles.

In a statement issued on Monday, Sylva’s Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs, Julius Bokoru, criticised the EFCC’s approach, describing it as “unceremonious” and lacking due process. He said the agency failed to communicate formally with the former minister before making the public declaration.

“It is, to say the least, curious that what was once whispered in corridors as a ‘coup matter’ has now quietly metamorphosed into a financial allegation,” Bokoru stated, alleging that the development is part of a wider political campaign against Sylva.

He noted that while he has not been in direct contact with Sylva, available information confirms that the former Bayelsa State governor will comply with the EFCC’s invitation in line with his long-standing respect for lawful institutions and due process.

Bokoru also dismissed allegations surrounding the refinery project linked to Sylva, insisting that it is “a legitimate, transparent, and verifiable undertaking subject to due process and traceable documentation.”

He described the current situation as a “coordinated and calculated political onslaught,” but expressed confidence that the truth would eventually prevail.

“Chief Timipre Sylva has clean hands. He has not diverted a single dollar, nor has he betrayed the trust reposed in him by the Nigerian people,” the statement added.