Former Bayelsa Governor, Timipre Sylva arrested by EFCC

Former Bayelsa governor, Timipre Sylva has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Timipre Sylva was arrested today Wednesday May 8th and interrogated in connection with fraud charges, according to a statement released by the anti-graft agency today.

EFCC said in the statement that the former governor "was found hiding in a dingy corner in the upper chamber of his expansive mansion," in Abuja after his staff told them he was not in town when they went to make the arrest.

Find a statement issued by the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, after the cut...

“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. 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.

“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 warns that it will no longer tolerate the antics of suspects who treat its invitations with levity.”