BREAKING: EFCC Arrests former Bayelsa Governor, Timipre Sylva

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today (May 8, 2013) arrested the former governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva.

He was picked up at his No. 3, Niger Street, Maitama, Abuja home.

The EFCC says in a statement Wednesday that on arrival at the facility at about 10.00 am, its operatives were told Mr. Sylva was not in town but that 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 by the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren said.

Mr. Uwujaren continues, “He was immediately whisked away and is currently being interrogated at the Abuja headquarters of the anti- graft agency. He 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 arrest of the former governor is sequel to his refusal to honour invitations by the Commission. 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 Commission, the statement adds, will not longer tolerate the antics of suspects who treat its invitation with levity.