The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed claims that the declaration of former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, as wanted was politically motivated.

It was reports that the anti-graft agency declared Sylva wanted for an alleged $14.8 million fraud.

According to the Commission, he had allegedly siphoned $14,859,257 provided by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board for the suspended Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical project.

Sylva also recently made headlines when soldiers raided his Abuja residence on October 25 over alleged links to an attempted coup.

His younger brother, Paga, who serves as his Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs, and his driver were also arrested during the operation.

Speaking to Punch, the spokesperson for EFCC, Dele Oyewale, stated that Sylva was declared wanted after he jumped bail.

He explained that the former governor of Bayelsa State had been under investigation for a long time and was on administrative bail.

But the Media and Public Affairs aide to Sylva, Julius Bokoru, countered the EFCC’s position, saying the former minister received no formal communication from the commission before he was declared wanted.

“No formal communication was extended to him, no established protocol was observed, only a sudden digital proclamation designed, it would seem, to inflame public sentiment and manufacture yet another episode of orchestrated hostility,” he said.

Bokoru also alleged political interference in the matter, claiming that accusations against Sylva had repeatedly shifted. He added that the former minister, who is currently in the United Kingdom for a medical check-up, intends to honour the EFCC’s invitation once he is cleared to return.

“For clarity, I have not been in direct communication with Chief Sylva. However, from available information and prior official briefings, it is important to restate that Chief Sylva will, in line with his respect for lawful institutions and due process, honour the invitation of the EFCC once he concludes his ongoing medical check-up in the United Kingdom,” he added.

Reacting to reports that the former minister was not adequately invited before being declared wanted, the EFCC spokesperson maintained that Sylva was placed on administrative bail but failed to comply with its conditions.

He said, “We have invited him before; he came and was placed on administrative bail. But after he failed to keep a date with his bail conditions, he had to be declared wanted.

“We followed due process in doing that. It is not true that we did not contact him. It is not true that we did not follow procedure. If we did not follow procedure, how could we have put him on administrative bail? There is no political colouration except in the imagination of our detractors.”

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At the time of his de@th, Lt. Haruna was a medical doctor attached to the 6 Battalion Regimental Medical Officer (RMO), having been married for only five months.

Tears flowed freely as the young military officer, Lt. (Dr) Samson Haruna, allegedly burnt to de@th by his wife, Retyit Dalong Haruna, was laid to rest on Saturday, November 15, 2025, with full military honours in his hometown in Pushit district, Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State.

Recall that the tragic incident happened during a domestic dispute at Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, where the wife reportedly set the 31-year-old army officer on fire during a domestic dispute.

At the time of his de@th, Lt. Haruna was a medical doctor attached to the 6 Battalion Regimental Medical Officer (RMO), having been married for only five months.

Reports then had indicated that the couple had a heated argument, which resulted in the wife dousing him with petrol (PMS) and setting him on fire, and he d!ed as a result of severe burns he suffered weeks later.

A source in the barracks who narrated the sad incident to our correspondent had said the young officer sustained severe burns and was immediately stabilised at the Military Reference Section (MRS) in the barracks before being evacuated to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital for further management.

The source added that Lt. Haruna could not survive as he succumbed to his injuries despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life.

Though her family has tried to exonerate her from the crime claiming that she had been freed, the source insisted that she was actually the main suspect.

Another source, who is also a military officer serving in the same formation and also from Plateau State, reliably told our correspondent that Retyit has been handed over to the police for further investigations and would be charged in court at the end of the investigations.

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The Nigerian Army has debunked the abduction of the Commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General M. Uba, by ISWAP terrorists.

It was reports that the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele, in a statement on Saturday, described social media reports claiming Uba was abducted as entirely false.

Anele urged the public to disregard the rumour, saying it was intended to cause panic.

According to the army Spokesman, the ISWAP terrorists never took the senior officer and safely returned from the operation.

The Army also confirmed that two soldiers and two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) were killed when troops ran into an ambush around Wajiroko in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The statement added that the team had been on a routine patrol to secure surrounding communities before they came under heavy fire while returning from the fringes of Sambisa Forest.

She said, “Sadly, two soldiers and two CJTF members paid the supreme price while serving the nation.”

Anele emphasised that the patrol team led by Brig.-Gen. Uba, comprising troops from the 25 Task Force Brigade and CJTF members, fought back bravely and forced the insurgents to retreat.

She added that the Army High Command has condoled with the families of the fallen personnel, describing their sacrifice as heroic.

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