EFCC Seals Abuja Home of Former Petroleum Minister

The Abuja residence of Timipre Sylva, the immediate-past Minister of State for Petroleum, has been sealed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

This was disclosed on Monday by Julius Bokuro, Special Assistant on Media to Sylva, who criticized the commission’s actions. Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, is under investigation concerning the alleged diversion of $14.8 million intended for a refinery project in Brass Local Government Area of the state.

In a statement titled “Grave Breach of Decency: EFCC Attempted Raid and Defacement of Sylva’s Family Home,” Bokuro claimed the operation was carried out without a warrant or adherence to lawful procedure. “It is behaviour unbecoming of any institution that claims to act in the national interest. What unfolded at the Maitama residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was nothing short of an affront to decency and a troubling assault on the very principles that underpin a civilised society,” he said.

He detailed that EFCC officers attempted to intrude into the home and spray-painted the walls with the words “EFCC — Keep Off.”

“Officers of the EFCC attempted yet another aggressive intrusion into his home and proceeded to spray-paint his walls in stark red, emblazoning the words ‘EFCC — Keep Off’ as though marking the property of a fugitive rather than the home of a respected statesman,” Bokuro stated.

He added that Sylva’s children, relatives, and staff have been effectively confined to the house for weeks. “To violate such a place without warning, without justification is to inflict terror upon innocent people who have no connection whatsoever to political gamesmanship,” he argued.

Bokuro further suggested the action had political motives, stating, “This latest incident bears all the hallmarks of local political rivalry being misinterpreted, or mischievously presented, as federal instruction. It is a dangerous muddling of partisan ambition with national authority.”

He warned against the use of state agencies for political ends, saying, “Government agencies and parastatals must never allow themselves to become weapons in political contest. Chief Sylva has, for decades, served Nigeria with calmness, loyalty, and an almost disarming sense of patriotism. From his stewardship of Bayelsa state to his contributions at the federal level and his continued, unwavering support for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he has remained dignified even when confronted with provocation. His commitment to this nation has never faltered.”