The Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today arrested the former governor of
Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva following his refusal to honour invitations to
answer charges over allegations of fraud running into billions of Naira.
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today arrested the former governor of
Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva following his refusal to honour invitations to
answer charges over allegations of fraud running into billions of Naira.
The offence is said to have been committed while
he served as the governor of the state.
He was picked up at his No. 3, Niger Street, Maitama, Abuja home.
Vanguard learnt that the EFCC operatives stormed the mansion around 10.00 am
and were told by Sylva’s security men that the man was not in town and that
they should come back upon his return.
he served as the governor of the state.
He was picked up at his No. 3, Niger Street, Maitama, Abuja home.
Vanguard learnt that the EFCC operatives stormed the mansion around 10.00 am
and were told by Sylva’s security men that the man was not in town and that
they should come back upon his return.
However, the operatives smelling a rat, decided
to conduct a search on the house since they were already armed with a search
warrant signed by the court.
to conduct a search on the house since they were already armed with a search
warrant signed by the court.
Apart from discovering the embattled governor in
one of the hideouts in the mansion, the search also led to the recovery of what
the operatives described as ‘very vital documents’ that would assist in the his
prosecution.
one of the hideouts in the mansion, the search also led to the recovery of what
the operatives described as ‘very vital documents’ that would assist in the his
prosecution.
“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.
out of town, was later found hiding in a dingy corner in the upper chamber of
his expansive mansion.
“He was immediately whisked away and is
currently being interrogated at the Abuja headquarters of the anti- graft
agency,” a source said.
currently being interrogated at the Abuja headquarters of the anti- graft
agency,” a source said.
The spokesman for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren,
confirmed the arrest of the former governor, who fell out with President
Goodluck Jonathan over political differences in 2011.
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.
confirmed the arrest of the former governor, who fell out with President
Goodluck Jonathan over political differences in 2011.
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.
Source: Vanguard
