EFCC Arrests Former Bayelsa Governor; Timipre Sylva

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday arrested the former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva.

A statement signed by EFCC’s Acting Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the former governor was “picked up at his Abuja home, at No. 3, Niger Street, Maitama” by the EFCC officials who stormed the former governor’s home at about 10.00 am.

According to the statement, the embattled governor was discovered in the house where he was “hiding in a dingy corner in the upper chamber of his expansive mansion.”

“On arrival at the facility at about 10.00 am, the Commission’s operatives were told that the ex-governor was not in town but they insisted on conducting a search on the house having obtained a warrant from the court.”

“During the search, vital documents were obtained. Ironically, the ex-governor who was said to be out of town was later found hiding in a dingy corner in the upper chamber of his expansive mansion” the statement claimed.

He was immediately whisked away and is currently being interrogated at the Abuja headquarters of the anti- graft agency.

According to EFCC Mr Sylva is “being grilled in connection with fresh evidence linking him with a bouquet of fraudulent transactions that borders on money laundering. Part of the new evidence includes a number of eye-popping real estate acquisitions in Abuja.”

The anti-graft agency further explains that the arrest of the former governor is sequel to his refusal to honour invitations and purported lies by his attorney that he was ill in Lagos, whilst he was in residence in Abuja.

“Rather than appear before the EFCC, he got his lawyers to inform the Commission that he was unable to appear because he was sick, and hospitalised in Lagos. The lawyer had promised to appear with his client on May 7, 2013 but failed to do so.”

The agency also released a number of distraught pictures of Mr Sylva following his arrest from his alleged hiding place.

The commission warned that it will no longer tolerate the antics of suspects who treat its invitation with levity.

 The embattled governor is standing trial on a six-count money laundering charges and embezzling over N6billion of Bayels state funds whilst in office.  

Sylva recently denied allegations that he is hiding from the EFCC after an Abuja High court granted the commission permission to paste the six-count money laundering charges at the front gate of his Abuja residence.

The governor in a statement by his media aide, Doifie Ola, stated that the governor was not hiding but keeping a low profile because he does not want his security compromised.